Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) experience a direct decline in their quality of life. This is because they have to find a bathroom wherever they go and frequently wake up during the night due to the urge to urinate.
Moreover, their urine stream weakens, and urination time increases, causing significant stress. This phenomenon occurs as the enlarged prostate compresses the urethra.
If the overall size of the prostate is not too large (under 80g) and general anesthesia is difficult due to underlying conditions, Rezum (REZUM SYSTEM) therapy can be considered.
Rezum is a procedure that uses high-temperature water vapor injected into the prostate tissue without the use of electricity or scalpels. It transfers thermal energy to necrose the excessively grown prostate tissue. Subsequently, the dead tissue is absorbed by the body, reducing the size of the enlarged prostate and relieving pressure on the urethra.
Compared to surgery, it involves less bleeding, reduces the burden of anesthesia, and allows for same-day discharge, which is a significant advantage for elderly patients.
In particular, it is suitable for patients who wish to preserve sexual function, as the incidence of retrograde ejaculation is low. Additionally, despite being a minimally invasive treatment, the re-treatment rate after five years is only 4.4%, indicating high effectiveness.
According to the latest 2025 data from the American Urological Association, a study of 712 patients showed significant improvements: residual urine volume decreased from 134ml to 30ml, urine flow rate increased from 8.6mL/s to 12.5mL/s, and IPSS (Prostate Symptom Score) improved from 22 to 9.8.
However, Rezum is not just a simple procedure of injecting steam. Injecting a large amount doesn't necessarily improve effectiveness, nor is injecting a small amount necessarily safer. Since the size and shape of the prostate, the degree of transition zone enlargement, and the pattern of obstruction vary for each patient, "where, how much, and how" you inject is the core of Rezum.
Actual overseas papers show that a higher number of injections did not necessarily lead to better symptom improvement. Conversely, in cases where the number of injections was too low, there was a tendency for an increased need for re-operation within four years after the procedure.
Ultimately, what matters in the Rezum system is a "customized strategy" that adjusts the injection site and amount based on a precise analysis of the patient's anatomical structure and obstruction pattern, rather than the absolute number of injections.
Even if symptoms appear mild, significant improvement can be expected just by delivering steam to the correct location in cases of obstruction. On the other hand, if the prostate size is over 80g, other treatments might be more suitable.
Dr. Kim Tae-heon, director of Goldman Urology (Seoul Station branch), advised, "Rezum therapy is building a predictable treatment model by tracking long-term structural changes and recurrence rates as well as short-term results. Treatment should consider both the structure of the prostate and the patient's quality of life, rather than judging by symptoms alone."
He emphasized, "It is important to remember that Rezum is a customized treatment method that requires precise judgment and planning."