Other Treatment Options
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH):
Comparing the pros and cons of various treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH):
| Treatment | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Medication (Alpha-blockers, 5α-reductase inhibitors) | – Non-invasive – Can be effective for mild to moderate symptoms |
– Potential side effects (dizziness, decreased energy, sexual dysfunction) – May not be effective for severe cases – Ongoing cost |
| Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) | – Minimally invasive – Preserves sexual function – Also effective for larger prostate sizes – Can be done in an office setting |
– New procedure with limited patient and physician awareness – Not Performed by a Urologist like other treatments – Patients will have to go to an Interventional Radiologist |
| Laser Focal Therapy (LFT) | – Minimally invasive – Low blood loss – Low risk of retrograde ejaculation – Real-time image guidance |
– Requires general anesthesia – May not be suitable for very large prostates |
| TULSA-PRO | – Minimally invasive – Real-time image guidance – Preserves prostatic urethra |
– Requires general anesthesia – Limited long-term data |
| Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) | – Effective for moderate to severe symptoms – Well-established procedure |
– Risk of bleeding – Higher risk of retrograde ejaculation – Requires hospital stay |
| UroLift | – Minimally invasive – Preserves sexual function – Can be done in an office setting |
– May not be suitable for very large prostates – Potential for device migration |
| Rezum | – Minimally invasive – Preserves sexual function – Short procedure time |
– Requires catheter for 3-5 days post-procedure – Initial discomfort and potential blood in urine/semen – Not suitable for all prostate sizes |
| Transurethral Microwave Therapy (TUMT) | – Noninvasive – Can be done in an office setting |
– May not be as effective as surgical options – Potential for urinary retention |
| Simple Prostatectomy | – Effective for very large prostates | – Most invasive option – Longer recovery time – Higher risk of complications |