Unlike other hormone therapy drugs, this medication does not cause impotence or loss of sex drive. It often takes three to six months to achieve its maximum effect and is effective in 30 to 35 percent of cases. The traditional surgical technique for BPH, the TURP removes obstructing prostate tissue through a special telescope inserted into the. urethra. The results are comparable to TURP in patients with small prostates, but the procedure is technically difficult and less effective in patients with larger prostates. Laser ablation of the prostate is an exciting alternative.
Impotence is extremely uncommon and the incidence of retrograde ejaculation is quite low.
Patients can return to relatively normal activities within days. Some patients may experience frequency, urgency and a reduced urinary stream for several weeks. The main advantages lie in fewer risks and side effects, faster return to normal activities and potential cost savings to both the individual and society. It should be pointed out, however, that it is a relatively new procedure and there is still much to be learned, especially in terms of long-term success rates. Alex J. Weinstein, M.D. joined Sansum Clinic in 1987 after completing his residency in Boston, Massachusetts at the Harvard Program in Urology.