TURP Vs Rezum Water Vapour Therapy

The Traditional “Gold Standard”: A Frank Look at TURP Surgery

For decades, if a man’s BPH symptoms were severe enough to warrant surgery, the conversation almost always led to one procedure: Transurethral Resection of the Prostate, or TURP. It has long been considered the “gold standard” for its effectiveness in clearing the urinary channel.  

What is TURP?

TURP is a surgical procedure designed to physically remove the excess prostate tissue that is blocking the urethra (BPH). A surgeon inserts a specialized tool called a resectoscope through the tip of the penis and into the urethra. This tool has an electrified wire loop at the end that is used to cut away and remove the obstructing prostate tissue piece by piece, creating a wider channel for urine to flow through.

The Surgical Experience

A TURP procedure is a significant medical event that requires a considerable commitment from the patient. Here is what you can typically expect :  

• Anesthesia: The procedure is performed in a hospital operating room and requires either general anesthesia (where you are completely asleep) or spinal anesthesia (where you are numb from the waist down).
• Procedure Time: The surgery itself usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes.
• Hospital Stay: Following the surgery, a hospital stay of one to four days is standard.
• Catheter Use: A urinary catheter is placed at the end of the surgery to drain urine while the area begins to heal. This is typically kept in place for 24 to 48 hours and is removed before you are discharged from the hospital.

The Long Road to Recovery

The recovery from TURP is a lengthy process. It typically takes four to eight weeks to fully heal, and during this time, there are significant restrictions on your daily life. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and even driving for a period. Sexual activity is also off-limits for four to six weeks to allow the internal wounds to heal properly. It is also common to experience discomfort, such as painful urination and blood in the urine, for several weeks after the surgery.

The Critical Trade-Offs: Understanding the Risks

While TURP is effective at improving urinary flow, its benefits come at a cost that many men find too high. The procedure forces a difficult choice: accept a high probability of sacrificing a core aspect of your sexual function in exchange for better urination. This is the fundamental compromise of TURP. The risks are not minor possibilities; they are common and often permanent outcomes:

• Retrograde (“Dry”) Ejaculation: This is the most common side effect of TURP, affecting a staggering 45% to 65% of men who undergo the procedure. It occurs when the muscles at the bladder neck are damaged during surgery, causing semen to flow backward into the bladder during orgasm instead of out of the penis. While a man can still experience the sensation of orgasm, little to no fluid is ejaculated. This condition is usually permanent and results in infertility.
• Erectile Dysfunction (ED): While less common than dry ejaculation, a percentage of men experience new or worsened difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection after TURP.
• Other Serious Risks: Less common but significant risks include urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control), heavy bleeding that may require a blood transfusion, and the potential need for re-treatment in the future if the prostate grows back or scarring occurs.

A Modern Breakthrough: Introducing Rezum Water Vapor Therapy

For men who are rightfully concerned about the trade-offs of TURP, a modern and elegant solution has emerged. Rezum Water Vapor Therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that effectively relieves BPH symptoms without the need for major surgery and, most importantly, without the high risk to sexual function.  

Harnessing the Simple Power of Steam

The concept behind Rezum is remarkably simple and powerful. The procedure uses targeted, nine-second bursts of sterile water vapor—essentially steam—which are delivered directly into the enlarged prostate tissue. The thermal energy from the steam gently and precisely destroys the targeted cells. Over the following weeks, the body’s natural healing response gradually absorbs the treated tissue. As this tissue is removed, the prostate shrinks, the pressure on the urethra is relieved, and the urinary channel opens up.  

A Different Kind of Procedure

The experience of undergoing Rezum therapy is fundamentally different from that of a traditional TURP surgery. The key differences are precisely what makes it so appealing to patients :  

• Minimally Invasive: There is no cutting, scraping, or surgical removal of tissue. The procedure is done with a thin instrument inserted through the urethra.
• Outpatient Setting: Rezum is typically performed as a quick, outpatient procedure in a urologist’s office or a day surgery center, not a hospital operating room. Patients go home the same day.
• No General Anesthesia: The procedure does not require general or spinal anesthesia. It is performed using a local anesthetic to numb the area, sometimes with light sedation to help you relax. This makes it a much safer option for men with other health conditions who may be poor candidates for major surgery.

Getting Back to Your Life, Faster

The recovery from Rezum is significantly faster and less disruptive than from TURP. Most men are able to return to their normal, non-strenuous daily activities within just a few days. It is important to have realistic expectations about the timeline for symptom improvement.

Note: Immediately after the procedure, there will be some swelling, which can cause urinary symptoms to temporarily worsen before they get better. This is a normal part of the healing process.

Most men begin to notice a real improvement in their symptoms within a few weeks, with the maximum benefit typically seen at around the three-month mark as by then the body has mostly completed the process of absorbing the treated tissue.

A key part of the Rezum recovery is the use of a temporary urinary catheter for a few days after the procedure. While the catheter used after TURP is typically removed before you leave the hospital, the Rezum catheter is managed at home for about three to seven days. This might sound like a drawback, but it’s a strategic and necessary part of a much better overall bargain. This short-term, manageable inconvenience at home allows you to avoid a hospital stay, major surgery, and a long, painful recovery, all while protecting your long-term sexual health.  

The Main Event: Preserving Your Quality of Life and Sexual Function

This is the most significant advantage of Rezum therapy and the reason it represents such a major step forward in BPH treatment. The precise, targeted nature of the steam therapy allows for the treatment of obstructive prostate tissue while preserving the delicate surrounding nerves and muscles that are critical for sexual function. Clinical studies have consistently demonstrated that Rezum effectively relieves urinary symptoms while preserving both erectile and ejaculatory function. The risk of experiencing retrograde (dry) ejaculation after Rezum is extremely low—around 5%—a stark contrast to the 45-65% risk associated with TURP. With Rezum, you no longer have to choose between urinating well and maintaining your sexual health.

Rezum vs. TURP: A Clear Comparison for Your Peace of Mind

Making a decision about your health can feel overwhelming, especially when weighing different medical procedures. To simplify this, the table below provides a direct, at-a-glance comparison of the key factors that matter most to patients when choosing between Rezum and TURP.

Analyzing the Choice

As the table clearly shows, the choice between Rezum and TURP is a choice between two very different philosophies of treatment. TURP is an aggressive, highly effective surgical intervention that has been the standard for a reason—it works well to clear the urinary channel, especially in men with very severe symptoms or extremely large prostates.

However, for the vast majority of men with mild-to-moderate BPH symptoms, Rezum presents a much smarter choice. It offers a comparable level of long-term symptom relief, with studies showing durable results for at least five years and a low surgical retreatment rate of just 4.4%. It achieves these excellent outcomes without demanding the significant lifestyle and sexual health compromises that are inherent to TURP. For the man who values his overall quality of life—including a quick recovery and the preservation of his sexual function—Rezum is the clear modern alternative.

Is Rezum the Right Path for You?

While Rezum is a revolutionary treatment, it’s important to determine if it’s the best fit for your specific situation. A consultation with an experienced urologist is the only way to know for sure, but you are likely an excellent candidate for Rezum therapy if you fit the following profile.

Profile of an Ideal Rezum Candidate

Rezum is most beneficial for men who :  

• Are experiencing mild-to-moderate BPH symptoms that are negatively impacting their quality of life.
• Are tired of taking daily BPH medications or are experiencing unwanted side effects from them.
• Place a high value on preserving their sexual function and want to avoid the significant risks of dry ejaculation and erectile dysfunction associated with TURP.
• May have other health conditions that make major surgery under general anesthesia a higher risk.
• Have a prostate gland that is generally in the size range of 30 to 80 grams (though experienced surgeons can successfully treat larger glands as well).

Voices of Experience

Sometimes, the best way to understand a procedure is to hear from men who have been through it. Patient stories consistently highlight a sense of profound relief and a return to normalcy.

Many men, like a patient named Joe, describe a life that had begun to revolve around the bathroom. His wife noted that they had to “scout out every washroom” and that simple activities like going out to dinner or taking a road trip were constantly interrupted. After his Rezum procedure, Joe was “thoroughly pleased,” enjoying the ability to get a good night’s rest and no longer having his life dictated by his bladder.¹

Other men express immense relief at finding an alternative to TURP, a procedure they were “terrified” of because of the potential side effects and lengthy recovery. For many, Rezum is not just a medical treatment; it’s the key to getting their old life back—a life where they can enjoy a round of golf, fish with friends, or simply sleep through the night without worry.

The Smart Choice: World-Class Rezum Therapy in India with Treatment Possible

Once you’ve decided that a modern, minimally invasive treatment like Rezum is the right path for you, the next question is where to have it done. For discerning patients seeking the absolute best in both quality and value, India has emerged as a premier global destination for advanced medical care.

Why choose India for Your Rezum Treatment?

Choosing India for your Rezum therapy is a decision backed by three key pillars of excellence :  

• World-Class Expertise: India is home to some of the world’s most skilled and experienced urologists. Many are trained in top institutions in the US and Europe and have extensive experience performing the latest minimally invasive procedures, including Rezum.
• State-of-the-Art Technology: The hospitals in our network are JCI-accredited, which is the highest international benchmark for quality and patient safety. They are equipped with the same advanced medical technology and adhere to the same rigorous standards as the best hospitals in the West.
• Unbeatable Cost-Effectiveness: Due to a favorable economic structure, you can receive treatment in these world-class facilities at a fraction of the cost that includes travel. Patients who travel to India for medical care can save 60-80% on their procedure compared to prices in the US or thailand, without any compromise on the quality of care.

Footnotes and References:

1. Reference: https://www.rezum.com/rezum-patient-stories/joe-bph-treatment-with-rezum.html ↩︎