Water vapor thermal therapy compared to medication in BPH

This study compared water thermal therapy with medical therapy (use of drug medication) in the treatment of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH – enlarged prostate). The study found that the use of a single treatment of water thermal therapy was more effective than long-term use of medication to treat BPH.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common problem among men as they age. It can lead to distressing urinary symptoms such as problems with emptying the bladder. Medication is one of the most common treatment options. Medications such as doxazosin (Cardura), and finasteride (Proscar) work by acting on receptors on the prostate tissue to reduce the size.

Water thermal therapy is a newer treatment option that uses heated water to remove excess prostate tissue. It is important to compare the effectiveness of these therapies.

136 patients from a study using water thermal therapy were included and compared to results from a study of 1,140 patients received doxazosin, finasteride or both. Of these, 367 were treated with doxazosin, 390 with finasteride and 383 with a combination of both.

Thermal therapy reduced prostate symptom scores by roughly 50% over 36 months. This improvement was greater than either drug treatment and similar to combination drug therapy. Urinary symptoms improved after water therapy and doxazosin. Water therapy was more effective than finasteride at 24 months of treatment and combination therapy at 12 months.

The rate of clinical progression (worsening of BPH) was 5 times higher in patients treated with any medical therapy when compared to a single thermal therapy procedure.

The study concluded that a single water vapor thermal therapy treatment was more effective in reducing symptoms than long-term drug therapy.

The comparison of studies had a large difference in number of patients which may have affected results.

Talk to your doctor about water therapy to treat an enlarged prostate.