Painful Urination? Optilume® May Be Able to Help

At Urology Specialists of Cypress, our world-class board-certified urologist, Dr. James Stocks, understands the challenges of painful urination and one of its most common underlying causes: urethral narrowing or stricture. 

This blog delves into urethral strictures and explains how Optilume® can help. 

Understanding the cause of painful urination

Urethral stricture happens when the urethra (the tube that transports urine out of your body) narrows. This, in turn, leads to problems, such as:

• Painful urination
• Difficulty starting to urinate
• Weak urine stream
• Urinary retention
• Increased urinary frequency

Many people with urethral stricture experience many or all of these disruptive issues at once.

Our patients often ask Dr. Stocks what caused their urethral stricture. Although urethral stricture can be present at birth, it usually develops over time.

Some possible causes include sexually transmitted infections, pelvic trauma, chronic inflammation, and radiation for pelvic cancers. A history of urinary surgery, or frequent need for self-catheterization, may also lead to urinary stricture. Sometimes, no cause is known.

However, one of the most common causes of urethral stricture is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in which the prostate gland swells to squeeze the urethra, causing the narrowing. About half of men, ages 51-60, develop BPH.

Optilume for painful urination

Optilume is FDA-approved for the treatment of urinary obstruction in men with BPH aged 50 and older. It’s the newest and most exciting advancement in treating urinary stricture. Previously, many men resorted to surgery, but Optilume offers new hope. 

In this in-office treatment, Dr. Stocks uses a catheter system to inflate a tiny balloon within the urethra. This pushes the two overgrown lobes of the prostate apart, relieving the pressure on the urethra. 

In addition, the Optilume system includes a separate catheter that delivers a drug to the prostate lobes and the urethra. This medication deters prostate regrowth, which is a common problem with many other BPH treatments. 

Optilume results

Studies show that Optilume offers significant relief of urinary pain. Patients experience a 176% increase in urinary flow on average, leading to far more comfortable urination. 

In addition, patients experienced a 65% decrease in all prostate symptoms, including stop-and-start urination, weak urination, urinary frequency, and other intrusive issues. 

Optilume offers immediate relief, and it lasts: At three years post-treatment, 77% of patients still have significant symptom relief without retreatment.

Get nonsurgical help for painful urination now

If you’re struggling with painful urination and suspect you might have BPH, don’t wait to seek help. Optilume can offer quick relief in just one office visit. Call our office today or reach out online to arrange a consultation.