What is BPH?
BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), or benign enlargement of the prostate is a growth of cells that leads to the prostate growing so that it compresses the urethra. This results in, for example, problems urinating and urgent needs to urinate. It is not a dangerous condition and it has no association with cancer.
How common is BPH?
It is very common. Every second man over the age of 50 has BPH problems.
When should I contact a doctor?
It is time to contact a doctor when you feel that your problem has become so great that it affects your quality of life; for example if it disturbs your sleep, or if your problem suddenly becomes worse.
What alternatives are there for treating BPH?
The most common ways of treating BPH are with drugs or by some form of surgical operation. Medications need to be taken continuously; treatment may be life-long and often has a temporary effect. Surgery requires a general anaesthetic or spinal anaesthesia and inpatient hospitalisation.
What complications can result from the treatment?
All of the effective treatments for BPH are associated with certain risks, even if these risks are small. Your urologist or doctor can explain more about the risks the different forms of treatment have.
Will my sex life be affected: Is there a risk I will become impotent?
There is a small risk of impotency whenever the male sexual organs are treated, but the risks associated with BPH therapies are small. Scientific studies have not shown any increased risk of impotency associated with microwave therapy.
Can the therapy result in fertility problems?
Yes. There is a risk associated with both surgical treatment and microwave therapy that afterwards the sperm will empty into the bladder instead of travelling through the penis. This results in a ‘dry ejaculation’. Most people do not notice any significant difference in sensation. Other BPH treatments can also lead to sterility, such as treatment with medications. If you want to retain your fertility it is important that you tell your doctor about this.
What is CoreTherm®?
CoreTherm® is the therapy that used to be called PLFT (ProstaLund Feedback Treatment). Thermotherapy is often called TUMT (Transurethral Microwave Therapy) in the medical literature. The treatment involves passing a catheter through the urethra. In the catheter there is an antenna that produces microwaves. The microwaves heat the prostate tissue nearest to the urethra and kill the heated cells/tissue. It is important that the correct temperature is reached for the therapy to be effective.
Is thermotherapy a new method?
No, not at all. BPH has been treated using thermotherapy since the beginning of the 1990s. This year alone it is estimated that around 100,000 BPH patients worldwide will be treated using some type of thermotherapy.
What differences are there between normal Transurethral Microwave Therapies (TUMT) and CoreTherm®?
CoreTherm® is a further development of TUMT, where the temperature in the prostate is monitored during the entire treatment. Normal TUMT uses a predetermined treatment time and microwave power, without measuring the temperature in the prostate during the therapy. When CoreTherm® therapy is used the doctor knows the actual temperature reached in the prostate and adjusts both the microwave power and the treatment time according to the needs of the individual patient. For a good outcome it is important that the correct temperature is used for the therapy, so unnecessary injury is avoided.
Which patients can be treated?
The majority of patients diagnosed with BPH can be treated with microwaves and CoreTherm®, but there are exceptions. Talk to your doctor about this.
How good is CoreTherm® compared to surgery?
Scientific studies have shown that CoreTherm® is as effective as surgical treatment (TURP), it is associated with fewer risks and it is more convenient for the patient. The therapy can be given at a clinic and no inpatient hospitalisation is needed.
What examinations need to be carried out prior to CoreTherm® therapy?
Before you have CoreTherm® therapy a urologist must examine you to make sure your problems are caused by BPH and not anything else. This examination usually includes a questionnaire, measurement of urine flow, ultrasound examination of the prostate and by the doctor inserting a finger into the rectum to feel the prostate.
Will I be given a general anaesthetic or spinal anaesthesia during the treatment?
No. CoreTherm® therapy is given using a local anaesthetic. You will be given a painkiller and may be given a tranquillizer if required. You are awake during the therapy and can tell the medical team how you feel. Some differences may appear pending on local regimes for treatment.
Is the therapy uncomfortable or painful?
Most people do not think the therapy is painful, but it is normal to feel some discomfort and a feeling that you need to urinate (urinary urgency). Feeling discomfort is different for each individual and it is therefore important to tell the doctor if you feel uncomfortable during the therapy.
Can I go home directly after the therapy?
Yes. The treatment itself takes about 10-15 minutes (up to 20-30 pending of anaesthesia used) and you can normally go home after a few hours.
How long will it take before I feel well again after the therapy and how long will I stay well?
CoreTherm® is a single treatment therapy. It normally takes some time before you notice the full effects of the therapy. Scientific studies have shown that 8 out of 10 patients who have CoreTherm® therapy are satisfied and notice the effects within three months.
Will I feel discomfort after the therapy?
Some patients don’t feel any discomfort after therapy, while others experience urinary urgency. This is due to the prostate becoming irritated and swollen, but this gradually disappears. Some patients feel the urinary urgency to be a problem, especially during the first few days after therapy. The problem becomes less as the swelling goes down and then disappears completely. Ask your doctor about analgesia.
Must I use a catheter after therapy?
Yes. After the therapy you will need a catheter for a while. Your doctor will decide how long.
Must I take medication after therapy?
It is not unusual to be given antibiotics when you have an indwelling catheter. In the days immediately after therapy some patients take palliative medicine. Talk to your urologist about your individual needs. In the long-term no medication is needed following CoreTherm® therapy.
Who can I contact to get treatment?
If you suspect you have a BPH problem you should contact your doctor or urologist. It is important that you are correctly diagnosed. When you have been diagnosed with BPH you and your doctor/urologist should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different treatment methods.