Consider the Facts

It's a common problem
More than 50% of men over the age of 60 have an enlarged prostate.⁵ As the
prostate grows, it presses against and narrows the urethra, causing a urinary
obstruction that makes it difficult to urinate. Men with enlarged prostate
may experience difficulty urinating, increased frequency and urgency, and
the inconvenience of waking often during the night.

It's important to address it
While an enlarged prostate – also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or
BPH – is not cancerous, if left untreated it can cause permanent damage to
the urinary system.

It's easily treated
The three most common treatment options recommended by physicians are
medication, minimally invasive thermo therapy, and surgery. Let’s look at the
advantages and disadvantages of each.

 

Treatment Options

⁵

Therapy selection is a decision between you and your physician. Each option has advantages and disadvantages that should be explored in detail.

Medication

In cases of mild symptoms of enlarged prostate, medications such as Alpha Blockers may provide relief for many men.

Advantages

• If the medications work, they can be a simple solution with no surgical procedure required⁵

Disadvantages

• Medications are costly^5,7
• Medications must be taken every day for the rest of your life to maintain symptom relief^5,7
• Medications may stop working over time^7,9
• May not eliminate the need for surgery in the future^7,9

Possible Complications

• Erection problems such as erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence⁵
• Lowered sexual drive⁵
• Dizziness⁵
• Low blood pressure⁵
• Nasal congestion⁵

TherMatrx® Office Thermo Therapy™

This method works by applying heat to the prostate tissue responsible for
the urinary symptoms of enlarged prostate. The heat causes changes in the
prostate tissue resulting in long-lasting symptom relief.^1,3

Advantages

• In-office treatment; patients return home right after the procedure¹
• Doesn’t require a hospital visit or general anesthesia¹
• Most patients experience quick recovery and resume normal activities in 3 days¹
• A single treatment can provide long-lasting symptom relief^1,3
• No long-term side effects, and minimal sexual side effects were reported in the clinical trial^1,2
• Covered by Medicare and most private insurers
• TherMatrx is the most widely used BPH thermotherapy treatment in the U.S.

Disadvantages

• Symptom relief happens gradually over 6 to 12 weeks from the time of treatment

Possible Complications

• Most patients do NOT experience side effects, and the majority of side effects observed in clinical studies were resolved within days after treatment and disappeared shortly thereafter on their own.¹

Surgery

Surgery may be recommended if your enlarged prostate symptoms are severe or other treatment options haven't been successful for you. The most common surgery is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

Advantages

• Long-lasting symptom relief⁷
• TURP has long history of use⁷

Disadvantages

• Requires general or regional anesthesia⁷
• Requires a 2-3 day hospital stay⁷
• Activities are restricted for 4-6 weeks⁷
• Anticoagulants, including aspirin, must be discontinued for a designated period before the procedure⁷

Possible Complications

• The risk of general surgical complications⁵
• Retrograde ejaculation ("dry climax")⁵
• Erection problems such as erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence⁵
• Incontinence (the inability to control your bladder)⁵
  

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1. Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy System. TherMatrx TMx-2000™. PMA P000043 summary of safety and effectiveness data. Approved June 29, 2001. Available at: www.fda.gov/cdrh/pdf/p000043.html.

2. Tepera C, Albala D, Andriole G, Davis BE, Kabalin JN, Lingeman, Nuzzarello J, Eure GR. Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) using the TherMatrx TMX-2000. Improved sexual function exhibited in a randomized, blinded study comparing TUMT with a sham procedure in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). 52nd Annual James C. Kimbrough Urological Seminar Jan 26-21, 2005. Honolulu, Hawaii.

3. Albala D, Andriole G, Davis B, Eure G, Kabalin J, Lingeman J, Nuzzarello. Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) using the TherMatrx TMX-2000™ for treatement of benign prostatic hyperplasia: 5-year follow-up of multicentre randomised pivotal trial. Eur Urol Apr 2006;5(2 suppl.):234 abstract 846.

5. BPH: A guideline on the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). AUA guidelines. 2003/updated 2006. at: www.auanet.org/guidelines/bph.cfm

7. Wojcik M, Dennison D. Photoselective vaporization of the prostate in ambulatory surgery. AORN J. Feb 2006;83(2):330-4 337-40, 343-5, 347-50.

9. Vehamme KM, Dieleman JP, Bleumink GS, Bosch JL, Stricker BH, Sturkenboom MC. Treatment strategies, patterns of drug use and treatment discontinuation in men with LUTS suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia: the Triumph project. Eur Urol. Nov 2003;44(5):539-45.

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