Enlarged Prostate Treatment - GreenLight Laser Therapy - BPH Treatment, Enlarged Prostate, Prostate Laser Surgery, Physician Finder

Treatment Options

Treatment Benefits and Risks

GreenLight™ Laser Therapy for BPH — Proven results. Greater freedom.
- – Dramatic improvement in urine flow
- – Quick return to normal activities
- – Fewer than 1% of patients reported erectile dysfunction (ED)
- – Outpatient procedure
Click here to find an experienced GreenLight physician.

For more information, please call 1-866-BPH-CARE.
Prostate cancer or enlarged prostate? Many prostate cancer and enlarged prostate symptoms are alike. That’s why it’s so important to see your doctor immediately if you begin experiencing urinary problems. Detecting prostate cancer early greatly improves your chances for a full recovery. To locate a doctor near you, click here.
Assess your BPH symptoms The American Urological Association (AUA) has created a point scale to help doctors and patients rate the severity of enlarged prostate symptoms. For more information, or to rate your enlarged prostate symptoms, click here.

GreenLight Laser Therapy is a outpatient procedure; meaning you can return home hours after the procedure, and can return to normal, non-strenuous activities within days.

Understanding enlarged prostate

When men reach their mid-50’s, their chances of experiencing bothersome urinary symptoms increase. In many cases, a physician will find that an enlarged prostate is the cause. As the prostate gland naturally grows, it can compress the urethra—the tube that drains urine from the body. This results in enlarged prostate symptoms. To learn more about an enlarged prostate (also called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH), click here.

Treating enlarged prostate—and getting back to what matters most

An enlarged prostate not only interferes with your health, it can disrupt your lifestyle and put a strain on the relationships you value most. If urinary issues are interfering with your daily activities, it’s time to explore your options.

No solution is right for everyone. Some choose to manage their enlarged prostate symptoms—others decide to permanently treat the condition and restore their prostate health. Understand what BPH treatments are available and discuss them with your doctor to find the solution that’s right for you.

What are my BPH treatment options?

Based on your enlarged prostate symptoms and your desired outcome, your doctor can recommend a number of BPH treatment options:

Watchful Waiting – In cases when enlarged prostate symptoms are mild, doctors may recommend a “watch and wait” approach, often asking patients to track BPH symptoms, before pursuing other courses of treatment.

Enlarged Prostate Medications – Physicians will often prescribe medications to manage enlarged prostate symptoms. These medications include alpha blockers, which relax the muscles around the neck of the bladder, making it easier to urinate, and alpha reductase inhibitors, drugs intended to shrink the prostate gland.

Microwave and Heat Therapies – These are minimally invasive treatments that use microwave or heat energy to reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) – This is a surgical procedure to remove enlarged prostate tissue.

Laser Therapy – This option removes enlarged prostate tissue through the use of high energy lasers.

Prostatic Stents – This option is reserved for those patients who are severely obstructed and otherwise unable to undergo surgery.

**Enlarged Prostate Treatments: Knowing the Advantages and Disadvantages**Only you and your doctor can decide which treatment is right for you. But here are some advantages and disadvantages of the most common courses of treatment, including GreenLight Laser Therapy, that you may want to consider.
treatment type	treatment name	advantages	disadvantages
treatment type	treatment name	advantages	disadvantages
Laser Therapy	GreenLight Laser Therapy	Significant improvement in quality of life—AUA symptom score is lowered by 14 - 20 points ¹ Long-lasting symptom relief An outpatient procedure for healthy patients Dramatic urine flow improvement Shorter recovery time and fewer side effects than TURP Quick return to normal activities	General or spinal anesthesia ² A common side effect patients may experience is a slight burning when they have to urinate for about a week. However, this can be managed with mild pain and anti-inflammatory medications. A small number of patients may see blood in their urine for a week or so
Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy of the Prostate (TUMT)	TherMatrx	Safe and effective office-based solution Performed with only a mild sedative Long-lasting solution Provides significant symptom relief	Minimal post treatment side effects A catheter may be required for two to five days after treatment Takes 6-12 weeks for patients to see symptom improvement
Watchful Waiting		Symptoms may improve ² No surgical recovery period ² No medication side effects ²	There is a risk of developing acute urinary retention ² Symptoms may worsen without treatment ²
Surgery	Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)	Provides long-lasting symptom relief Provides an average 14 to 20 point drop in the AUA symptom score ²	Requires a 2 - 3 day hospital stay Most patients are catheriterized for approximately 4 days Prolonged side effects of TURP may include retrograde ejaculation, erection problems, painful urination, recurring urinary tract infections, bladder neck narrowing, and blood in the urine ² Can cause excessive bleeding ²
Medications	Alpha Blockers (Relax muscles around the bladder neck making it easier to urinate.) ²	AUA Symptom Score is lowered by 6 to 8 points ¹ Tend to work quickly - within a day or two ²	Common side effects include reduced semen released during ejaculation, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, stomach or intestinal irritation, stuffy or runny nose ² Medications must be taken every day for the rest of your life to maintain symptom relief
Medications	5 Alpha-reductase Inhibitors (Helps shrink the prostate) ²	AUA Symtom Score is lowered by 3 to 4 points ¹ These drugs may also reduce the chance of developing acute retention, that is, not being able to urinate at all, as well as the need for prostate surgery in the future ¹	Must be taken for 6 to 12 months before any improvement may be seen ¹ Common side effects include erectile dysfuction, decreased libido, and reduced semen during ejaculation ¹

* What are BPH symptom points? The American Urological Association has created a simple survey to help you assess the severity of your prostate symptoms. The larger your score, the greater point reduction you’ll need to relieve your enlarged prostate symptoms. To take the survey, click here.

1. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): A Patient's Guide. AUA Foundation 2005. On the net: http://www.auanet.org/guidelines/patient_guides/bph_guide_2003.pdf from March 11, 2008.

2. Prostate gland enlargement — MayoClinic.com Tools for healthier lives. Original Article: www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-gland-enlargement/DS00027/DSECTION=2 from March 11, 2008.