My experience with BPH became personal.

When I was practicing, I knew communication was key with my BPH patients. Patients forget 40-80% of medical information provided by their healthcare practitioners – and almost half of the information they do remember is incorrect.¹ I would help ensure my patients knew critical information about their condition and their BPH treatment options.

After decades of helping patients treat their BPH, I started dealing with the same condition. BPH is a natural part of getting older, affecting 50% of men by age 60.² And it goes up from there: 70% of men over 60 years of age and 90% of men by the age of 85 experience BPH symptoms.^2,3

As my condition progressed, I realized that I needed a BPH medical treatment.

At first, I used medication to manage my symptoms, but I wasn’t happy with the various side effects and chose to pursue other treatment options. I’d been performing Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy on my patients for years and decided to undergo the procedure myself. Rezūm Therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that reduces the size of the prostate. Rezūm Therapy uses the natural energy stored in water vapor, or steam, to shrink the prostate so urine can flow freely again.⁴

I chose Rezūm Therapy over other options because I knew firsthand how successful it was for my patients. In fact, a recent study showed that 97% of men would recommend Rezūm Therapy to a friend.⁵

I was very comfortable during my procedure.

For many years, I practiced a method I’d developed, now known as the “Beahrs’ block”: a pain management technique for procedures on the prostate. When I had Rezūm Therapy, I actually sought out a physician to perform the “Beahrs’ block” on me.

The full procedure took about 30 minutes, and since I used the “Beahrs’ block,” I didn’t feel much pain. My catheter was placed for 24 hours and I avoided caffeine and alcohol after the procedure. I started to notice improvement within a week but continued to wear a pad for a month, just as a precaution. And most importantly, I was sleeping through the night!

Overall, the procedure was quick and relatively pain-free. I’m pleased Rezūm Therapy resolved my BPH symptoms, giving me the same relief I’ve been able to provide to my patients.

References

1. Kessels RPC. Patients' memory for medical information. J R Soc Med. 2003 May;96(5):219-22. 
2. Barry M, Roehrborn C. Management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ann Rev Med. 1997 Feb;48:77-189. 
3. Berry SJ, Coffey DS, Walsh PC, et al. The development of human benign prostatic hyperplasia with age. J Urol. 1984 Sep;132(3):474-9. 
4. McVary KT, Rogers T, Roehrborn CG. Rezūm water vapor thermal therapy for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: 4-year results from randomized controlled study. Urology. 2019 Apr;126:171-9. 
5. Mooney R, Goldberg K, Wong D, et al. Convective radio frequency thermal therapy for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: Singe office experience with 255 patients over 4 years. Urol Pract. 2020 Jan;7(1):28-33.

All treatments have inherent and associated risks. The Rezūm System is intended to relieve symptoms, obstructions, and reduce prostate tissue associated with BPH. It is indicated for men ≥ 50 years of age with a prostate volume 30cm³≤ 80cm³. The Rezūm System is also indicated for treatment of prostate with hyperplasia of the central zone and/or a median lobe. Potential risks include but are not limited to painful urination (dysuria), blood in the urine (hematuria), blood in the semen (hematospermia), decrease in ejaculatory volume, suspected urinary tract infection (UTI), and urinary frequency, retention or urgency. You should talk with your doctor about benefits and risks before moving forward with any treatment option. 
Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results may vary
Individual recovery varies. Experience may not be representative of all cases. 
Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. 
Content on this web page is for Informational Purposes only and does not constitute medical advice and should not be used for medical diagnoses. Boston Scientific strongly recommends that you consult with your physician on all matters pertaining to your health or to address any clinical/medical questions.
J. Randolf Beahrs, MD, is a Boston Scientific consultant and was compensated for his contribution to this article.
All images are the property of Boston Scientific. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Rezum.com is a website sponsored by Boston Scientific.