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Rezum - water vapour, day-case, ejaculation preserved.

A minimally invasive, day-case treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Small injections of water vapour shrink obstructing prostate tissue over 6–12 weeks - with a much better chance of preserving ejaculation than TURP or HoLEP.

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

Indicative pricing

What private Rezum treatment costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our BPH network. Rezum is a day-case procedure - no overnight stay, no theatre time comparable to TURP.

In short

£4,500–£7,500, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
Rezum treatment (day-case, LA/sedation) £4,500–£7,500
Rezum under short general anaesthetic £5,500–£8,500
Urodynamic + flow + IPSS work-up £450–£850
Prostate MRI (mpMRI) £450–£850
Transrectal prostate ultrasound £300–£550
Repeat Rezum (rare, delayed re-treatment) £4,000–£7,000
Urology consultation only £250–£450

Prices vary by hospital, by whether GA is used, and by the imaging package included. Rezum is generally cheaper than TURP, HoLEP or robotic prostate work - reflecting its day-case nature.

The problem

The right minimally invasive BPH option for your prostate.

BPH is where private urology quietly under-delivers - one-size-fits-all recommendations that ignore prostate volume, median-lobe anatomy and your priorities on sexual function.

  • Volume and anatomy dictate the option

    Rezum works well in 30–80 mL prostates. Above 80 mL, HoLEP or open surgery may be better. UroLift and iTind have different anatomical constraints.

  • Ejaculation matters to most men

    Retrograde ejaculation is common after TURP and HoLEP. Rezum preserves ejaculation in around 90 percent - a big deal if it matters to you.

  • Medication first is often still right

    For mild-moderate symptoms, alpha-blockers ± 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors give many men enough relief to defer a procedure entirely.

When it helps

When Rezum earns its place.

The presentations where Rezum fits - and the red flag that needs cancer work-up before any BPH treatment.

  • Moderate-to-severe LUTS on medication

    IPSS ≥8–13, poor flow, frequency and nocturia despite alpha-blockers - the classic Rezum candidate.

  • Prostate 30–80 mL on MRI or TRUS

    The volume window in which Rezum reliably produces durable symptom relief.

  • Man wanting to preserve ejaculation

    Around 90 percent of men keep antegrade ejaculation after Rezum - versus much lower rates after TURP or HoLEP.

  • On anticoagulants that make TURP risky

    Rezum has a low bleeding profile and can often be done while continuing certain blood thinners after specialist review.

  • Wants to avoid a general anaesthetic

    Rezum can be done under local + sedation in most men - GA optional, not required.

  • Median lobe present

    Rezum treats the median lobe with dedicated injections - an advantage over UroLift, which is limited in median-lobe anatomy.

  • Wants a durable non-implant option

    Unlike UroLift, Rezum leaves no permanent implant - durable at 5 years in trials without a device in place.

  • Red flag: retention, haematuria, PSA >4 with abnormal DRE

    Recurrent urinary retention, macroscopic haematuria or an abnormal PSA/DRE needs oncology-focused work-up first - biopsy or MRI before any BPH treatment.

Procedure options

How Rezum compares with your other BPH options.

What each option involves - approach, ejaculation, catheter time, durability - and where each earns its place.

  • Rezum water-vapour therapy

    Convective water-vapour ablation of the lateral (and median) lobes. Day-case, ejaculation-sparing, catheter 3–7 days.

  • UroLift (prostatic urethral lift)

    Permanent implants that pull the lateral lobes apart. Ejaculation-sparing. Not suitable for a large median lobe or prostates over ~80 mL.

  • iTind (temporary implanted nitinol device)

    Temporary device left for 5–7 days that reshapes the prostatic urethra. Fast recovery, ejaculation-sparing, less durable than Rezum.

  • TURP (transurethral resection of prostate)

    The traditional workhorse. Very effective symptom relief, but retrograde ejaculation in most, longer hospital stay, higher bleeding risk.

  • HoLEP (holmium laser enucleation)

    Gold standard for large prostates. Highly effective and durable, but usually GA, longer catheter, retrograde ejaculation common.

  • GreenLight laser vaporisation

    Laser vaporisation of prostate tissue - day-case in many centres, lower bleeding risk, retrograde ejaculation still common.

  • Robotic/open simple prostatectomy

    For very large prostates (>120 mL) unsuitable for HoLEP. Best symptom relief but longest recovery.

  • Medication (alpha-blockers, 5-ARIs)

    Tamsulosin, alfuzosin, silodosin (alpha-blockers) or finasteride/dutasteride (5-ARIs). Effective in mild-moderate disease with sexual side effects for a minority.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Rezum is a well-tolerated day-case procedure. The trade-off is that peak effect takes 3 months and there is a period of temporary symptom worsening before it improves.

  • Local + sedation for most, GA optional

    Most men have Rezum under a prostate block plus light sedation. Short GA is offered where preferred or clinically indicated.

  • Catheter for 3–7 days

    A soft indwelling catheter is standard while the prostate swells before it starts to shrink. Trial without catheter usually succeeds first time.

  • Symptoms may briefly worsen

    For 1–3 weeks after catheter removal, urgency, frequency and dysuria are common. Alpha-blockers help. Improvement builds over 6–12 weeks.

  • Ejaculation usually preserved

    Around 90 percent of men retain antegrade ejaculation after Rezum - much better than the 50–90 percent retrograde rates after TURP and HoLEP.

  • Erectile function usually preserved

    Erectile function is generally unchanged after Rezum. Any decline is usually related to progression of underlying vascular disease, not the treatment.

  • UTI, retention and bleeding

    Post-procedure UTI 3–8 percent, transient retention 3–5 percent, minor haematuria common for 2–4 weeks. Serious bleeding is rare.

  • Re-treatment rate

    Around 4–5 percent of men need a further BPH procedure within 5 years - comparable with other minimally invasive options and lower than long-term medication continuation.

  • Not for men with active infection or cancer suspicion

    Active urinary infection is treated first. Any PSA/DRE red flag needs cancer work-up before Rezum is planned.

  • Red flags after treatment

    Fever, worsening pain, inability to pass urine, or heavy haematuria with clots need the same-day urology team or A&E, not a routine call.

Reading your procedure note

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

Whether it was three vapour injections or nine, the note the urologist sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant urologist reviewing a patient’s Rezum treatment plan

A quiet reminder

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

If you would like us to talk you through the notes and any results before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Prostate volume and anatomy treated

    Baseline volume, whether lateral lobes only or median lobe also treated, and total number of vapour injections.

  2. 02 Technique

    Anaesthetic and injection map

    Which anaesthetic (LA + sedation, block, GA), position of each 9-second vapour treatment, and catheter placement.

  3. 03 Findings

    Baseline flow and symptom scores

    IPSS, Qmax on uroflow, post-void residual and PSA at baseline - the numbers we track against follow-up.

  4. 04 Impression

    Recovery plan and follow-up

    Read this first: catheter duration, medications, expected symptom timeline, and follow-up dates.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Rezum treatment is covered by most UK private insurers when moderate-to-severe LUTS from BPH are documented and other criteria are met. NICE has issued positive guidance on Rezum.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about Rezum.

Quick answers on the procedure, sex, catheter, timeline and cost.

  • What is Rezum?

    Rezum is a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Small injections of sterile water vapour (steam) are delivered into the enlarged prostate through a cystoscope. The vapour condenses inside the tissue, killing obstructing prostate cells convectively. Over 6–12 weeks the treated tissue is resorbed and the urethra opens up.

  • How is Rezum different from TURP or HoLEP?

    TURP and HoLEP physically remove prostate tissue in theatre under GA and usually cause retrograde ejaculation in most men. Rezum ablates tissue biologically over weeks, is a day-case under local + sedation, and preserves ejaculation in around 90 percent. Symptom relief is durable but slightly less complete than HoLEP in very large prostates.

  • Will Rezum affect my sex life?

    Erectile function is generally unchanged. Antegrade ejaculation is preserved in roughly 90 percent of men. This is a major reason younger, sexually active men often choose Rezum over TURP or HoLEP.

  • How soon will I notice a difference?

    Symptoms often get temporarily worse for the first 1–3 weeks after the catheter comes out - urgency, frequency and burning are common. Improvement builds from around 4 weeks, with peak effect at 3 months and continued improvement to 6 months. Durable benefit is seen at 5 years in clinical trials.

  • How does NICE view Rezum?

    NICE has issued interventional-procedures guidance supporting Rezum as an option for men with moderate-to-severe LUTS from BPH, and it is used in the NHS as well as the private sector. The evidence base - including the WAVE trial - is now 5 years plus and consistent.

  • How much does private Rezum treatment cost in the UK?

    Roughly £4,500–£7,500 under local + sedation, £5,500–£8,500 under short GA. MRI or ultrasound work-up £300–£850.

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