Enlarged Prostate and Minimally Invasive Therapy

The enlarged prostate and minimally invasive treatments for it have been the subject of many recent studies because alternative therapy carries greater risk. Although prostate surgery could provide the best chances of improving urinary functions and symptoms, enlarged prostate and minimally invasive therapy now appears more attractive.

The attraction lies in the fact that patients with prostate disorders who’ve been treated for it are simply weary of more invasive treatments. Those that haven’t been treated likewise prefer less invasive cures because they’re wary about having side effects associated with something as sensitive as the prostate.

Younger patients are especially wary about prostate surgery as they fear it may severely affect their quality of life (e.g., suffering from erectile dysfunction).

Since new methods for treating enlarged prostate and minimally invasive therapy focus on unblocking the flow of urine, they will neither destroy the entire prostate gland, nor reduce prostate size by very much.

Enlarged Prostate and Minimally Invasive Therapy – Device Therapy

New types of enlarged prostate and minimally invasive treatments are mainly device therapies. These methods owe a lot to technology.

In these treatments, doctors use devices or gadgets for applying heat to tissues that block the bladder or urethra ducts. Heat destroys these tissues, effectively removing the obstructions without the need for surgery.

Some examples of new technology for treating enlarged prostate and minimally invasive procedures are:

- TUVP/TVP–Trans Urethral Vaporization of Prostate
- TUMT–Trans Urethral Microwave Thermo-therapy
- VLAP–Visual Laser Ablation of Prostate
- ILC–Interstitial Laser Coagulation
- TUNA–Trans Urethral Needle Ablation

The disadvantages of these new treatments for enlarged prostate and minimally invasive methods are they’re availability. If they’re available, there may be a lack of local doctors who know how to use them.

One of the biggest downsides to these new treatments is that your insurance company may not cover them as most of are regarded as unproven or being in the experimental stages.

Enlarged Prostate and Minimally Invasive Therapy – Are You a Candidate?

If your answer to all these questions is NO, then you’re probably eligible for the new treatments for enlarged prostate and minimally invasive methods listed above.

1. Have you had prostate surgery?
2. Do you have a serious pelvic injury?
3. Have you ever had radiation done on your pelvis?
4. Do you have a severely enlarged prostate gland with acute symptoms?

Enlarged Prostate and Minimally Invasive Therapy – Risk & Expense

In general, minimally invasive therapy shows better results than drugs at relieving lower urinary tract disorders. Although they’re not as effective as surgery, minimal invasion causes less injury to surrounding (healthy) tissues.

On the other hand, minimal invasion still poses a higher risk than drugs, but lower than surgery.

Finally, new treatments for enlarged prostate and minimally invasive methods are cheaper than both surgery and drugs, as drug treatment costs often pile up through the duration required for them to be effective.

Last Updated - Friday, Jul, 30 2010



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