What is enlarged prostate?
Enlarged prostate or Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common in men from the age of 50 onward, with prevalence increasing with age — by 80, approximately 80% of men will have the condition. However, only 40–50% develop symptoms, which occur when the enlarged inner tissue of the prostate compresses the urethra, restricting urine flow.
BPH is not prostate cancer and does not develop into cancer, though both conditions can occasionally be present in the same patient, as they arise in different parts of the prostate.
Common symptoms include:
- Difficulty urinating
- Waking multiple times at night to urinate
- Weak urine stream
- Urinary incontinence
- Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
- Frequent urination
How does water vapor therapy work?
Water vapor therapy (Rezūm) is a safe, minimally invasive treatment for enlarged prostate that uses only water vapor to reduce prostate tissue — with no cutting or heat ablation. The procedure takes just 15 minutes.
Using a scope passed through the urethra, the doctor injects a small burst of steam into 4–6 points within the prostate. Each injection takes only 9 seconds. The thermal energy from the steam causes immediate cell death in the targeted tissue. The body then naturally eliminates the dead cells, causing the treated area to shrink and the urethra to open. Patients typically notice improved urinary flow within 2–4 weeks.
Benefits of water vapor therapy
- Safe — no general anesthesia required; performed under sedation and IV analgesia
- Procedure completed in just 15 minutes
- No overnight hospital stay required
- No impact on sexual function — erection and ejaculation are preserved
Who is suitable?
- Men aged 50 and over with a prostate size of 30–80 grams
- Those who prefer not to take long-term medication
- Those who have experienced side effects from medication
- Those who have not responded adequately to medication
- Those at high risk from general anesthesia
Contraindications
Water vapor therapy is not suitable for patients with:
- A penile prosthesis
- An artificial urethral sphincter
- An active urinary tract infection
Water vapor therapy is backed by clinical research and approved by both the US FDA and Thailand’s FDA, confirming its safety and long-term effectiveness. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s Urology Center is the first hospital in the Eastern Region of Thailand to offer this treatment, with a specialist team providing care from initial consultation through to post-treatment follow-up.
