Benefits and Risks – Radio Frequency Therapy

When bothersome urinary symptoms due to an enlarged prostate affect your life, you may have alternative treatment options. If you no longer want to take enlarged prostate medication, or risk the potential side effects of invasive surgery, talk to your doctor about RF therapy.

Benefits

RF therapy offers several advantages over other treatments:

• Improves the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for up to 5 years^1,2
• Takes about an hour (with some additional preparation and recovery time required)³
• Can be done in your doctor's office³
• Is usually performed with local anesthesia only (only the affected area is numbed)⁴
• Lets you get back to many of your normal activities within a day or two⁴
• Is covered by Medicare in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, as well as by many private insurance companies

Risks

RF therapy is used to treat urinary symptoms due to BPH in men over the age of 50 with prostate sizes between 20 cm³ and 50 cm³. The procedure is associated with few side effects and adverse events.^1,2

RF therapy is available by prescription only. This therapy is not for everyone. Possible side effects include obstruction (blockage), urinary retention, bleeding, blood in urine, pain/discomfort, urgency to urinate, increased urinary frequency, and urinary tract infection.

If you are not able to urinate following the procedure, your doctor may insert a catheter to make sure you can empty your bladder. Most people do not need a catheter. When needed, the catheter is usually removed within 1 to 3 days.

You may also experience a minor burning sensation when urinating for 1 to 2 weeks following the treatment. Talk to your doctor to see if RF therapy is right for you.

References

1. Hill B, Belville W, Bruskewitz R, Issa M, Perez-Marrero R, Roehrborn C, Terris M, Naslund M. Transurethral needle ablation versus transurethral resection of the prostate for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: 5-year results of a prospective, randomized, multi-center clinical trial. J Urol 2004 Jun; 171; 2336-2340. (In this study of 65 patients, 13 were evaluated 5 years after RF therapy. Only 14% of 65 patients needed further treatment for BPH symptoms and went on to have surgery (TURP).)
2. Zlotta A, Giannapolous X, Maehlum O, Ostrem T, Schulman C. Long-term evaluation of transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) of the prostate for treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: clinical outcomes up to five years from three centers. Eur Urol 2003; 44:89-93. (In this study of 188 patients, 121 were evaluated 5 years after RF therapy. More than 75% did not need additional treatment for BPH symptoms.)
3. Campo B, Bergamaschi F, Corrad P, Ordesi G. Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA) of the prostate: A clinical and urodynamic evaluation. Urol 1997; 49:847-850.
4. Prostiva RF Therapy System User Guide Clinical Data. Safety information from System User Guide.

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• About Radio Frequency Therapy
• What Is It?
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