- The Prolieve System is a minimally invasive, 45-minute, in-office BPH (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia) treatment that helps relieve symptoms of enlarged prostates, and can be performed and well-tolerated under local anaesthesia
- Fast, safe and effective – Prolieve is a good alternative for those looking to ease off oral medication, those seeking a more long-term management of their symptoms and those who want to avoid undergoing surgery
- It is one of the few BPH treatment options that can actually reverse prostate enlargement, unlike medication that can only serve to control symptoms as a short term solution. Opting for Prolieve could vastly reduce resources and costs required for BPH management
For men living with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), most commonly known as prostate enlargement, each person’s experience and symptoms can differ vastly depending on the severity of their condition and the individual’s health management. Although an enlarged prostate is often benign and does not raise a person’s risk for prostate cancer if left untreated the symptoms may worsen and cause major discomfort.
Often, the simple fix treatment would be to get the patient started on medication first to alleviate symptoms and reduce the size of the gland while increasing urine flow. However, it is not an ideal long-term solution as the drugs do come with undesirable side effects such as giddiness, decreased sex drive and problems with ejaculation.
Since public knowledge on BPH and options for treatment are limited, it might cause some men to avoid dealing with their symptoms altogether until their symptoms become very bothersome. Thus, in an effort to raise awareness about this condition, FeM Surgery’s resident urologist Dr Png Keng Siang discusses signs of BPH and how this new minimally invasive treatment can help those seeking an alternative solution for their enlarged prostate.
What is BPH and how do I know if I have it?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, and is one of the most common urological problems in elderly male, with 40% incidence for those 60 and above. Statistics show that a small amount of prostate enlargement is present in majority of men over the age of 40, with more than 90% of men over the age 80 having the condition.
The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system and produces the semen in a man’s ejaculate. As men grow older, their prostates grow in size and start to squeeze the urethra – the tube that carries urine and semen out of their penis – and causes a vast range of urological issues.
BPH symptoms include difficulty in starting urination, a weak and interrupted urinary stream, sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, and increased urgency and frequency in urination. At this stage, most men will be prescribed oral medication that can help manage BPH, but the side effects such as reduced libidos, giddiness, problems with ejaculation are the payoff some are unwilling to pay the price for.
In severe cases, patients may present with acute urinary retention, recurrent urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and kidney damage, in which major prostate surgery to remove the gland would have been necessary. But luckily, advances in technology have increased the number of minimally invasive treatments in the market, of which Prolieve is one of the available options at FeM Surgery.
What is Prolieve and how effective is it?
The Prolieve System is a two-in-one medical device that works to both ablate the prostate – to destroy excessive prostatic tissue and shrink the gland – and dilate the urethra – to allow ease of urine flow. The treatment involves inserting a special urinary catheter with microwave energy into the urethra, which emits microwaves to heat and destroy the enlarged prostate tissue. Then, a small balloon attached to the catheter will inflate within the section of the urethra close to where the prostate is located, dilating the channel which urine flows through.
The greatest advantage of this unique combination treatment is that it’s a minimally invasive, 45-minute, in-office procedure that can be performed and well-tolerated under local anaesthesia. It does not require a patient to enter an operating theatre and can be performed in a simple clinic room or anywhere where the patient can lie down comfortably for 45 to 60 minutes. This vastly reduces resources and costs required for treatment and patients can go home with little assistance as well.
Majority of patients experience significant and immediate relief of their BPH symptoms after Prolieve, with minimal side effects after. The Prolieve treatment was designed with patients’ needs and comfort in mind, so the perk of having very little downtime makes it a suitable option for those who want to resume their normal activities shortly after the treatment. Another plus point is how safe the entire process is.
“The side effects are very minor. Patients may feel discomfort urinating along with mild traces of bleeding for the first 24 to 48 hours, but these symptoms will go away in one or two days. Other than that, it is a safe procedure with little complications,” says urologist Dr Png.
Most importantly, Prolieve is one of the few treatment options for BPH that can actually reverse prostate enlargement, unlike medication that can only serve to control symptoms as a short term solution. On top of that, for elderly men who might already be taking multiple courses of medication for other health issues, the side effects of prostate medication which include dizziness and lowered blood pressure might not be ideal for all.
In this day and age, patients no longer need to tolerate their bothersome BPH symptoms. Men should understand that although it is part of getting older, prostate enlargement can be treated. The number of treatment choices are only increasing with time and there is the freedom to choose from a spectrum of options that are able to cater to all men with differing symptoms of prostate enlargement.
If you are bothered by urinary symptoms, please see a doctor for a prostate check-up.
To find out more about Prolieve, schedule your next health screening with us via our Contact Us page or dial (65) 6339 1101 to book an appointment.