Overview
Cool Wave Microwave Thermotherapy (also called Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy) is used to treat lower urinary tract symptoms that are caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate. It is an outpatient, nonsurgical treatment that can reduce the following uncomfortable urological symptoms:
- Frequent need to urinate
- Difficulty starting urination
- Slow urination
- Urgency at night
- Stopping and starting during urination
- Bladder fullness after urination
- Frequent urinary tract infections
Compared to other methods of treating BPH, Microwave Thermotherapy has more advantages, including:
- Low bleeding risk
- No hospital stay
- Lower risk of dry orgasm
What to Expect
Cool Wave Microwave Thermotherapy is a safe and generally well-tolerated treatment for men with small to moderately sized prostates. During this outpatient procedure, a special microwave catheter is inserted into the urethra. The antenna within the catheter will emit microwaves that heat and destroy the large, prostatic tissue that is blocking urine flow. The procedure takes anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour under local anesthetic.
Following the procedure, the prostate may be swollen and irritated. It may take several weeks to notice an improvement in urinary symptoms as the body needs time to break down and absorb the freshly destroyed prostatic tissue.
