New choices, new hope

While medications help many men with their enlarged prostate symptoms, taking meds may have drawbacks. Now there's another option to consider–GreenLight Laser Therapy, a treatment that can provide symptom relief–and free most men from the regimen of ongoing prostate medication.

What is GreenLight Laser Therapy?

GreenLight Laser Therapy is a procedure that uses a laser to remove enlarged prostate tissue, providing long-lasting symptom relief from enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)). This procedure is typically conducted in an outpatient setting, and offers an alternative to the side effects and inconvenience of other enlarged prostate treatment options like invasive surgery, and prescription medications.

Medications are a common course of treatment and provide relief for many men with mild enlarged prostate (BPH) symptoms. However, drugs are costly, must be taken regularly, require the patient to make a lifelong commitment, and may stop working over time. Side effects can include lowered sexual drive, erection problems, dizziness, and nasal congestion.

The surgical procedure known as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) involves removal of enlarged prostate tissue. While this surgery can be a highly effective treatment option, it does carry risk. Common side effects of TURP include erectile dysfunction and incontinence. TURP patients also experience longer recovery times, including catheterization for 1-5 days on average.

GreenLight is a treatment that offers the effectiveness of the TURP procedure, with fewer side effects. Like TURP, the GreenLight laser procedure removes enlarged prostate tissue, allowing urine to flow more freely through the urethra. Compared to TURP, GreenLight has fewer side effects and allows patients to return to their normal activities more quickly.

GreenLight Laser Therapy can be performed in a hospital outpatient center, or in a specially equipped physician's office. It typically does not require an overnight stay, except in some cases when a patient travels a long distance or has other medical conditions to consider.

What's the procedure like?

Before the treatment, your doctor will discuss anesthesia requirements as well as pain medication to ensure your comfort during and after the procedure.

During the GreenLight procedure, you will be resting comfortably. The doctor will insert an ultra thin fiber optic device into the urethra through a narrow tube with a lighted lens, called a cystoscope.

The GreenLight fiber delivers high-powered laser energy, which quickly heats up the prostate tissue until it vaporizes. This process is continued until all of the problematic prostate tissue has been removed. The entire procedure is virtually bloodless. Natural urine flow is rapidly restored, and urinary symptoms are quickly relieved in most patients, without the need for ongoing prostate-related medications.

What happens after?

After the procedure, patients may experience mild discomfort, such as a slight burning during urination for a week or so. This can be managed with mild pain and anti-inflammatory medication. Most patients experience noticeable symptom improvement immediately after their GreenLight procedure. They are typically able to leave the outpatient facility within hours after treatment. Most men return to normal activities within a few days, and can resume strenuous activities within a couple of weeks.

Is GreenLight Laser Therapy a cure for an enlarged prostate (BPH)?

Clinical studies have shown that GreenLight Laser Therapy provides comparable symptom relief to the traditional surgery (TURP), without many of the complications. Most patients are able to discontinue taking their prostate medications within a few weeks after the treatment. Clinical studies have proven GreenLight Laser Therapy's effectiveness at 5 years post-treatment, and additional studies are currently in progress to determine patient outcomes beyond that point.

The Advantages of GreenLight Laser Therapy

Rapid improvement of urine flow
Quick return to normal activities
Short to sometimes no catheterization (less than 24 hours in most cases)
Outpatient procedure
Less than 1% reported cases of erectile dysfunction (ED)
Long lasting symptom relief

Are there any risks and complications with this treatment?

Every medical treatment may have side effects. The same is true for GreenLight Laser Therapy. Below are the most common side effects experienced with GreenLight:

Hematuria – Blood in the urine
Bladder spasm or urgency – Cramping in the bladder or an urgent need to urinate
Irritation of the urinary tract – Frequent urination, burning sensation

What about the side effects?

One of the advantages of GreenLight Laser Therapy is minimal side effects: GreenLight patients may, however, experience minor, short-term discomfort, which generally goes away quickly on its own.

Clinical trials showed less than 1% of patients experienced sexual side effects like ED. If you are sexually active, you can look forward to remaining so, and having the GreenLight procedure does not affect your ability to take ED medications.

Who is eligible for GreenLight Laser Therapy?

Only your doctor can determine if GreenLight Laser Therapy is right for you. Together, you will assess your symptoms and desired outcomes to determine the best course of treatment. Fortunately, of the BPH treatments available, GreenLight has the widest range of eligible patients, and is approved for use on all prostate sizes.

Potential candidates may include men who:

Don't want to take medications
Are not satisfied with the results or side effects of medication therapy
Are newly diagnosed, and in a "watchful waiting" status