BPH Treatment Comparison
Use this side-by-side guide to explore how different treatment options stack up in terms of effectiveness, invasiveness, recovery, and everyday impact — so you’re aware of all the nuances when discussing your treatment options with your urologist.
|
TREATMENT/ |
MEDICATION (ALPHA-BLOCKERS) |
TURP |
HOLEP |
REZUM |
ITIND |
OPTILUME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
METHOD/TECHNOLOGY |
Oral medications that relax prostate muscles or shrink prostate tissue |
Surgical resection of prostate tissue |
Laser procedure that removes obstructing prostate tissue |
Steam ablation therapy that reduces prostate tissue over time |
Temporary nitinol implant that reshapes the urethra |
Drug-coated balloon dilation to widen the prostatic urethra |
|
HOSPITAL STAY |
Outpatient |
1-2 days |
1 day |
Outpatient |
Outpatient |
Outpatient |
|
ANESTHESIA |
None required |
General or spinal |
General or spinal |
Local or mild sedation |
Local or mild sedation |
Local or mild sedation |
|
DURATION |
Continuous treatment |
1-2 hours |
1.5-2.5 hours |
5-10 minutes |
5-7 minutes |
10-15 minutes |
|
COVERED BY OHIP |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
RECOVERY TIME |
2-6 weeks for symptom relief |
2-6 weeks |
2-3 weeks |
2-6 weeks |
1-2 weeks |
1-3 weeks |
|
NEED FOR CATHETER |
No |
Yes, 3-7 days |
Yes, 1-2 days |
Yes, 2-7 days |
No |
Yes, 2 days |
|
PRESERVES SEXUAL FUNCTION |
Often lost1 |
~70-90%2 |
~85-95%3 |
80-90%6 |
~90-95%7 |
~90%8 |
|
PRESERVES EJACULATION |
Often lost1 |
~20-35%2 |
~10-20%4 |
~90%6 |
Yes7 |
~90%8 |
|
SYMPTOM RELIEF DURATION |
Varies with use1 |
10-15 years2 |
1-15 years5 |
85% free of retreatment at 5 years6 |
5+ years7 |
3-5 years |
¹ “Efficacy and long-term outcomes of alpha-blockers for BPH.” Journal of Urology, 2017.
² “Long-term outcomes of TURP for BPH.” European Urology, 2020.
3 “Long-term functional outcomes of HoLEP for BPH management.” (Journal of Urology, 2020)
4 “Impact of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate on ejaculation: A systematic review.” (BJU International, 2019)
5 “Durability of symptom relief after HoLEP: A 10-year follow-up study.” (European Urology, 2022)
6 “Rezum therapy for BPH: Efficacy and safety at 5 years.” The Journal of Urology, 2021.
7 “Five-year outcomes of ITind for BPH management.” BJU International, 2022.
8 “Optilume drug-coated balloon for BPH: Preliminary outcomes.” Urology Practice, 2023.
9 “UroLift prostatic urethral lift: 5-year follow-up results.” Urology, 2019.