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Urology · London

iTind for BPH - a reversible outpatient treatment that preserves ejaculation.

A self-expanding nitinol device sits in the prostatic urethra for five to seven days, gently reshapes the tissue, and is removed. No thermal ablation, no permanent implant, and retrograde ejaculation is under one per cent.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private iTind treatment costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£4,000–£7,000, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
iTind - device, placement and removal (package) £4,000–£7,000
iTind placement only (device included) £3,200–£5,500
iTind removal (outpatient, LA) £600–£1,100
Urology consultation and work-up £250–£450
Flexible cystoscopy (pre-op) £450–£900
Prostate MRI (if needed for sizing) £450–£850

Prices vary by clinic, by which consultant does the case, and by whether pre-op imaging or cystoscopy is included in the package. NHS commissioning for iTind is currently limited, so most UK patients pay privately or through insurance.

The problem

The right BPH treatment for your prostate - not the clinic’s preferred one.

BPH is where private urology gets confusing fastest. Six or seven procedures, each pitched hard by the clinics that own them, and ejaculatory function often left off the consent form. We fix all three.

  • Worried about losing ejaculation?

    It is a fair concern and often waved away. iTind, Rezum and UroLift preserve it well - TURP, HoLEP and GreenLight typically do not.

  • Not ready for a permanent step?

    iTind leaves nothing behind. If it is not enough later, every other option remains fully available.

  • Want an honest comparison?

    A named consultant urologist who does iTind, Rezum and laser cases - and tells you plainly which fits your anatomy.

When it fits

When iTind is the right BPH step.

The men we see most, plus the situations where iTind is the wrong tool and honesty about that matters more than a booking.

  • Moderate–severe LUTS on medication

    IPSS in the moderate to severe range despite an alpha-blocker with or without a 5-ARI - symptoms are still limiting.

  • Younger, sexually-active men

    Retrograde ejaculation is <1% with iTind vs 60–90% after TURP or HoLEP. If ejaculatory function matters, it matters.

  • Medium-sized prostate (25–75 mL)

    iTind is designed for the medium gland with no dominant middle lobe. Larger prostates need HoLEP, GreenLight or Aquablation.

  • No middle-lobe protrusion

    Cystoscopy and imaging confirm anatomy suitable for the three-strut expansion pattern.

  • Wants a non-permanent option

    Nothing left in the body afterwards - no clips as with UroLift, no thermal ablation as with Rezum or GreenLight.

  • Wants to avoid TURP-level downtime

    Outpatient placement, LA with optional sedation, and a return to normal activity within days rather than weeks.

  • Considering surgery but not ready to commit

    iTind buys real symptom relief with a reversible footprint. If it is not enough later, other options remain fully on the table.

  • Not for: retention, very large gland, stones

    Urinary retention, prostate >75 mL, marked middle lobe, active UTI, bladder stones or tumour, urethral stricture, or previous prostate surgery - iTind is the wrong choice.

BPH options

iTind is not the only option.

What each BPH treatment actually involves - and where iTind sits in the landscape.

  • iTind (this page)

    Temporary nitinol device for 5–7 days that reshapes the prostatic urethra by controlled ischaemic remodelling. Reversible. Best ejaculatory preservation of any BPH intervention.

  • Rezum (water-vapour ablation)

    Injected steam ablates prostate tissue. Also preserves ejaculation well. Longer-lasting than iTind, but thermal and not reversible.

  • UroLift (prostatic urethral lift)

    Small permanent implants retract the lateral lobes mechanically. Similar ejaculatory preservation to iTind, but implants stay in place.

  • HoLEP (holmium laser enucleation)

    The gold-standard tissue-removing option for larger prostates. Very durable. Higher retrograde ejaculation and longer catheter/recovery than iTind.

  • GreenLight laser vaporisation

    Laser vaporises obstructing tissue. Good for medium-large glands, higher retrograde ejaculation rate than iTind.

  • Aquablation

    Robotic waterjet ablation, good for large prostates with reasonable ejaculatory preservation. Requires a specialist centre.

  • TURP (transurethral resection)

    The historical benchmark. Definitive tissue reduction but 60–90% retrograde ejaculation and a longer inpatient stay.

  • Watchful waiting + medication

    Alpha-blocker with or without a 5-ARI. Right first step for many men - iTind is for when this is no longer enough.

Safety and recovery

What to expect - honestly.

iTind is a well-tolerated day-case procedure (NICE IPG641, 2019). The things worth planning are the five to seven days with the device in situ, the small retreatment rate, and MRI timing.

  • Ejaculatory function is genuinely preserved

    Retrograde ejaculation is <1% with iTind. Compare with 60–90% after TURP or HoLEP, and 20–40% with UroLift.

  • A device sits in place for 5–7 days

    Mild urgency, frequency and a small amount of blood in the urine during that window is normal, not a complication.

  • Urinary retention 5–10%

    A small number of men need a temporary catheter during the implant window. It is inconvenient rather than dangerous, and settles once the device is removed.

  • UTI risk 5–10%

    A short course of antibiotics covers most cases. Fever, back pain or worsening symptoms should be flagged the same day.

  • Transient dysuria after removal

    Mild stinging on passing urine for a few days after removal is common. Full symptomatic benefit builds over 4–8 weeks.

  • Retreatment 10–15% at five years

    A minority of men eventually need a second procedure - usually a laser option or TURP. This is a genuine trade-off of a less-destructive first step.

  • MRI considerations

    iTind is metallic (nitinol). During the 5–7 days it is in situ, MRI is limited to 1.5T with radiologist sign-off. Once removed, no restrictions.

  • Device migration is rare

    Correct sizing and placement makes this uncommon. If it happens, the device is retrieved and options are re-discussed.

  • Red flags

    Inability to pass urine, heavy visible bleeding, fever with loin pain, or severe pelvic pain during the implant window - call the clinic or A&E the same day.

Reading your operation note

Your iTind note in four parts. Read the last one first.

The note the urologist sends you keeps to a consistent shape, whether the case is straightforward or has a wrinkle.

A UK consultant urologist reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Urology language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and eligibility summary

    Why iTind was chosen - IPSS, medication history, prostate volume, ejaculatory-function priority - and the anatomy that made it a fit.

  2. 02 Technique

    Placement and device details

    Anaesthetic used, cystoscopy findings, device size, position of the three struts, and any technical notes at deployment.

  3. 03 Findings

    Interval symptoms and removal

    How the 5–7 day window went, findings at removal, the state of the prostatic urethra, and any incidental findings.

  4. 04 Impression

    Recovery, follow-up and re-scoring

    Read this first: expected 4–8 week symptom improvement, when to repeat IPSS and uroflow, and what would trigger a further intervention.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for iTind varies by insurer - some fund it as a recognised BPH treatment, others treat it as newer technology and require pre-authorisation.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about iTind for BPH.

Quick answers on how it works, how it compares to Rezum and UroLift, ejaculatory function, cost, and how long the benefit lasts.

  • What is iTind and how does it work?

    iTind (Temporary Implantable Nitinol Device, Medi-Tate/Olympus) is a self-expanding nitinol device placed in the prostatic urethra for 5 to 7 days. Its three struts press gently on the tissue at fixed points, causing controlled ischaemic remodelling. When it is removed, three durable longitudinal channels remain, easing the obstruction - with no thermal ablation and no permanent implant.

  • How is iTind different from Rezum and UroLift?

    All three preserve ejaculation better than TURP or HoLEP. iTind is reversible - nothing stays inside. UroLift leaves permanent clips. Rezum uses water vapour to thermally ablate tissue and tends to last longer than iTind. Which fits you depends on prostate size, middle-lobe anatomy and how you weigh reversibility against durability.

  • Am I a good candidate for iTind?

    Typically: symptomatic BPH with a moderate–severe IPSS despite an alpha-blocker with or without a 5-ARI, a prostate of roughly 25–75 mL, no significant middle-lobe protrusion, and a wish to preserve ejaculatory function. Not suitable in urinary retention, very large prostates, active infection, bladder stones or tumour, urethral stricture, or after previous prostate surgery.

  • How well does iTind work, and how long does it last?

    In the MT-05 study, IPSS dropped by roughly 10–12 points at three years, with Qmax improving by around 40–60%. Most men still benefit at five years. Around 10–15% of men need a further procedure by five years.

  • How much does iTind cost privately in the UK?

    A typical package - device, placement, removal and consultation - runs £4,000 to £7,000 in London. NHS availability is currently limited and variable by trust, so most patients pay privately or through insurance.

  • Does iTind affect sexual function?

    Retrograde ejaculation is under 1% - the best of any BPH intervention. Erectile function is not typically affected. This is the main reason younger, sexually-active men choose iTind over TURP, HoLEP or GreenLight.

  • What is the recovery like?

    Placement is outpatient, usually with local anaesthetic and optional light sedation, and you go home the same day. Expect mild urgency, frequency and a little blood in the urine while the device is in. After removal (five-minute outpatient), symptoms improve over four to eight weeks.

  • Can I have an MRI while iTind is in place?

    iTind is metallic (nitinol), so MRI during the 5–7 day implant window is limited to 1.5T scanners with radiologist sign-off. Once the device is removed there are no MRI restrictions.

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