Water Vapor Thermal Therapy: Minimally Invasive Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Water vapor thermal therapy is a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that uses steam to ablate prostatic tissue to relieve lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH. It is an option for 30 to 80 g prostates in well-selected patients, and may avoid sexual side effects seen in other more invasive BPH treatments. It is a simple procedure with a short learning curve that can be performed in-office under local and oral anesthesia. Water vapor therapy should be offered to ideal candidates along with information regarding its risks, benefits, and outcomes.