Botox Treatment for Enlarged Prostate, Should You Consider it?

Botox for enlarged prostate

 

The use of Botox Treatment for Enlarged Prostate (botulinum toxin A) in the genitourinary tract has generated excitement over the past few years as a form of cosmetic procedure to eliminate wrinkles and improve appearance.

So it is not surprising that the use of this agent in the prostate gland to treat lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has become an area of interest for men seeking an alternative enlarged prostate treatment to drugs or surgery.

This form of injection therapy for enlarged prostate has a long history. The initial injected materials treats prostatic obstruction through acute inflammation followed by scarring and shrinkage of the prostate. Although several different materials and methods of injection have been proposed over time, very few of them still exist.

Some Research Based Results

Researchers from various universities of medicine have used Botox for patients with BPH, and have found that after injection, both the symptoms of enlarged prostate and the quality of life of these patients have improved considerably.

Results were obtained from a research study conducted on a group of 41 men with enlarged prostate, also kn own as BPH,  that can negatively impact their quality of life, causing frequent difficulties, especially weak urination flow and painful ejaculation. Unfortunately, the most common therapies are also the most problematic,  due to potentially serious side effects,  such as impotence in men who have undergone prostate surgery.

Patients aged 49-79 years who were diagnosed with symptomatic prostate adenoma and who did not respond to standard medical therapies, received Botox injections directly into the prostate gland. 31 patients, representing 75.6% of all patients in the study, experienced a 30% improvement in urinary symptomatology and achieved improved quality of life.

The majority of improvements occurred especially in the first year after Botox injection for some patients. 4 out of 5 patients, representing about 80%, were able to fully empty their bladder after just one week to one month after the injection.  This is due to the fact that Botox caused significant shrinkage of their swollen prostate gland, thus reducing its pressure on the urethra. Patients did not experience significant urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction as a result.

One of the team members of this research said that Botox reduces prostate size through a cellular apoptosis process, in which prostatic cells are destroyed by a programmed cell death. Lower prostate size improves urinary flow and causes a decrease in bladder residue.

 

Many questions on Effects of Botox Injection Have Yet To Be Answered

Surgery and minimally invasive treatments for BPH using heat or lasers can cut away or destroy prostate tissue. These procedures create an enlarged passageway for urine, but surgery comes with risks, including erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory problems, infections, and, rarely, urinary incontinence.

This preliminary evidence that indicates that injections of Botox might be an effective alternative does nothing but give us hope. Botox has been shown to be safe and effective, and a single office injection which takes about five minutes can achieve success for an entire year.

It sounds so promising – an exciting alternative that is something between standard drugs and surgery – but there are still unknown facts. For example, there is still no long-term data about its effectiveness or its impact on sexual function.

Transurethral resection of the prostate, as well as, medical therapy with some agents can result in ejaculatory dysfunction. If botulinum toxin A blocks the neuromuscular junction it seems plausible that patients could have ejaculatory changes after injection.

 

Botox for Prostate Enlargement May be a Last Resort

If you tried everything else, but it didn’t work; this might be your chance yet do it wisely. Find a doctor that is well trained on Botox injections, and is a safe and competent injector. Talk to him and see if he can determine the best way to treat you, the best way to inject Botox and the best dose.

Botox seems to be a particularly attractive treatment for men who have adverse reactions to enlarged prostate medications. But it definitely requires an outpatient procedure with minimal sedation and post-operative care.

Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication. It is also known that using Botox more often than prescribed will not make it more effective and may result in serious side effects.

 

However, you should not get a Botox treatment if you:

 

  • Are allergic to botulinum toxin.
  • Have a current bladder infection or you are unable to urinate (unless you routinely use a catheter).

 

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided above is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is provided. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about this treatment, check

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