One of the challenges men today face is the multitude of choices men have when deciding what procedure is right for their benign prostatic hyperplasia or "enlarged prostate"
There is a new category of treatments called "MIST" or Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapy which include Urolift, Rezum, and some prostatic stents such as iTind. These options allow of outpatient treatment while preserving sexual function(mainly the ability to ejaculate). Urolift can usually be done without a catheter. Rezum and Urolift can be done in the office without the need for general anesthesia.
The trade off is that these treatments don't bring about as dramatic improvements as some more invasive treatments and may not be as durable. By durable I mean men may need another treatment 5-10 years down the road.
Transurethral resection of the prostate, Greenlight laser, and Holep remove more tissue and usually have more significant symptom improvements but come with tradeoffs. Men will usually require a catheter for 1-2 days. Almost all men will lose the ability to ejaculate when they orgasm. Ejaculate means to produce fluid. Orgasm is the positive feeling of intensity that comes with climax during sex. So it still feels good but no fluid is expelled. Rarely men may have an increased chance of difficulty with erections after these treatments.
Additionally based on the size of the prostate and bladder function some men may not be candidates for certain procedures.
So there is no one size fits all. Meeting with an expert in this area can allow you to choose the option best for you.
Dr. Kent DeLay is an expert in prostate enlargement treating men in Lexington, Columbia SC and the surrounding areas.
