Prof. Dr. Emel Akoğlu
UrologyVerified
- 57+years exp.
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Prostate
Tumt (transurethral microwave therapy)
What TUMT is, how a microwave antenna on a catheter heats and shrinks obstructing prostate tissue, what the evidence says about symptom relief and repeat treatment, who it suits, how it compares with TURP, Rezum and laser options, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery, risks and how to check a clinic.
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Prof. Dr. Zerrin Biçik Bahçebaşı
UrologyVerified
- 37+years exp.
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What is TUMT (transurethral microwave therapy)?
TUMT (transurethral microwave therapy) is a non-cutting treatment for urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH). A special catheter containing a microwave antenna is passed through the urethra until it sits inside the prostate. The antenna heats the surrounding gland to roughly 45 to 70 °C for about 30 to 60 minutes while a cooling system protects the urethral lining. The heat destroys part of the obstructing tissue and damages the nerve endings that tighten the prostate muscle, and over the following weeks the gland softens and shrinks slightly, which lets urine flow more easily. No incision is made and no tissue is removed.
This guide explains how TUMT works, what the evidence says, who it suits, how it compares with other prostate procedures, what it costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, and what recovery is like. See also our urology treatments in Turkey section for the full range.
How does microwave therapy treat prostate symptoms?
As the prostate enlarges it presses on the urethra, causing a weak stream, hesitancy, dribbling, urgency and getting up at night. The treatment works in three ways. Heat kills a zone of tissue in the transition zone around the urethra, which is later reabsorbed; it reduces the tone of the smooth muscle by damaging alpha-adrenergic nerve endings; and the urethra slowly remodels into a wider channel. The effect on flow is gradual: many men feel little for the first weeks, and the full improvement takes about six to twelve weeks. Because the catheter must stay in while the swelling settles, a longer catheter period is part of the plan, which separates TUMT from procedures that reduce swelling quickly.
Does TUMT work, and how does it compare with TURP?
Trials and reviews show that TUMT improves symptom scores and urine flow compared with doing nothing or with a sham procedure, and that it avoids much of the sexual and bleeding risk of surgery. It is, however, less effective than TURP: flow rates improve by less, and a larger share of men need repeat treatment or return to medication or surgery within a few years. Higher-energy protocols seem to work better but cause more catheter time and discomfort. Because of this, the European Association of Urology guidelines place TUMT as an option for selected men who want to avoid surgery and accept a higher chance of retreatment, not as a first-line replacement for TURP. A good urologist will say this plainly. Ask for your expected improvement in flow rate and symptom score, and what happens if the result is not enough.
Who is a good candidate for TUMT, and who is not?
The treatment is generally considered for men with moderate to severe symptoms and a small to medium prostate (often 30 to 100 ml) who have not responded well to tablets, who prefer to keep ejaculation intact, or who are poor candidates for an operation because of heart disease or blood-thinning medicine. It is less suitable if the prostate has a very large middle lobe, if you have a prostate implant, a pacemaker or a metal hip implant that may interfere with the heating, an untreated urinary infection, a bladder stone or if cancer has not been excluded. Because symptoms can come from a weak bladder, a flow test and ultrasound, and sometimes urodynamics, should confirm that the prostate is the cause before any procedure.
TUMT, TUIP, Rezum or laser: which treatment?
Each minimally invasive option has a different balance of speed, durability and side effects.
| Procedure | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| TUMT | Men avoiding surgery, preserving ejaculation, or unfit for an operation | Slower, smaller improvement; longer catheter; repeat treatment more likely |
| TUIP | Small prostates under about 30 ml | Not for larger glands |
| Rezum steam therapy | Medium prostates without a large middle lobe | Catheter for days to weeks; newer evidence |
| Laser vaporisation or TURP | Larger prostates, strongest and longest-lasting relief | Anaesthesia needed; retrograde ejaculation common |
Our guides to TUIP, Rezum water vapour therapy and TURP explain the alternatives in more detail.
How is TUMT performed step by step?
TUMT is usually done as a day case in a urology treatment room, using local anaesthetic gel in the urethra, often with oral sedation or a suppository painkiller. The usual steps are:
- You lie on your back; the urethra is numbed with lidocaine gel, and a rectal sensor is placed in the rectum so that the temperature of the gland can be monitored.
- The microwave catheter, which also has a balloon to hold it in the bladder, is inserted and positioned within the prostate, often checked by ultrasound.
- The device delivers microwave energy for about 30 to 60 minutes while the cooled urethra is protected.
- After treatment the catheter normally stays in for several days to two weeks while swelling resolves.
You can often walk out of the clinic the same day. Some men feel heat, a strong urge to pass urine and bladder spasm during the session, which can be reduced by sedation and pain relief.
TUMT (transurethral microwave therapy) cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges per treatment, not hospital quotes. The price depends on the device and protocol used, whether sedation is given, and the pre-treatment tests and follow-up included.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €1,200 – €3,800 |
| United Kingdom | €2,500 – €6,000 |
| United States | €4,000 – €10,000 |
| Germany | €2,000 – €5,000 |
A package should list the consultation, flow tests and ultrasound, urine culture, the treatment and any sedation, the catheter and its removal, medicines and follow-up. Because TUMT is performed in an outpatient setting, the main difference between hospitals is the equipment and the support given while the catheter is in. Request a written plan through our free quote page so that you can compare what each price includes.
Recovery after TUMT: catheter, symptoms and timeline
The treatment is easy to recover from physically, but the catheter and the slow response test patience. A typical course:
- Day 0: treatment, short rest, then home or to the hotel with a catheter and leg bag.
- Days 1 to 7: urgency, bladder spasm, mild burning and blood-tinged urine are common; drink plenty of fluid and take painkillers and, if advised, bladder-calming tablets.
- Days 5 to 14: the catheter is removed after a trial without it, which depends on your surgeon's protocol.
- Weeks 2 to 6: urgency and frequency may be worse before they improve, and a urinary infection is possible.
- Weeks 6 to 12: flow and symptoms improve more steadily, and the final result is judged.
Most men go back to light work within a few days, though they avoid strenuous activity while the catheter is in. Many visitors stay in Turkey until the catheter is out, usually five to ten nights, or return home with a plan agreed with a local urologist. Flying with a catheter is possible but should be discussed with the doctor first.
Risks and side effects of TUMT
Common effects are urinary urgency and frequency, burning, blood in the urine or semen, bladder spasm and a temporary inability to pass urine, which is why the catheter stays in. Urinary tract infection occurs in a minority of men. Retrograde ejaculation is much less frequent than after TURP, and erectile function is usually preserved, though a small number of men report changes. Rare risks include urethral stricture, heat injury to the urethra or rectum if the cooling system or monitoring fails, and symptoms returning, which may need repeat treatment or surgery. The NHS and professional urology societies advise discussing all options, including medicines, and having cancer excluded before treatment. Seek urgent help for fever, heavy bleeding or a blocked catheter.
How to choose a urologist and hospital, and red flags
Choose a urology department that offers several prostate treatments, so that advice is not limited to one machine, and that tests the flow and measures the prostate before recommending anything. Red flags include a recommendation without a flow test, promises of a permanent cure or of "no downtime", no mention of the catheter period or the higher chance of repeat treatment, and no cancer check. Read how our process works, then ask the clinic:
- What is my prostate volume, and is TUMT the right match for it?
- How long will the catheter stay in, and can I travel with it?
- What is the expected improvement in flow, and how many men need repeat treatment?
- Do I have any implant or device that rules TUMT out?
- What is the plan if symptoms do not improve after three months?
Hospitals with Urology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
TUMT is a treatment for an enlarged prostate in which a catheter with a microwave antenna heats and shrinks obstructing tissue through the urethra. No cuts are made and no tissue is removed.
It improves symptoms and urine flow compared with no treatment, with a lower risk of side effects than surgery. It is less effective than TURP, and a larger share of men need repeat treatment, so expectations should be realistic.
Approximate ranges are €1,200 to €3,800 in Turkey against about €2,500 to €6,000 in the UK. The price depends on the device, sedation and follow-up, and a written quote shows what is included.
Most men feel heat and urgency during the session, reduced by local anaesthetic gel, sedation and painkillers. Afterwards bladder spasm and burning with the catheter are common and usually settle within a week or two.
It usually stays in for several days up to about two weeks while swelling settles. The exact period depends on the device and your surgeon's protocol.
Improvement is gradual. Symptoms can be worse for the first weeks, and most men notice better flow between six and twelve weeks after treatment.
Retrograde ejaculation is much less common than after TURP, and erections are usually unaffected. A small number of men notice changes, so discuss your priorities with the urologist.
TUMT avoids anaesthesia and most bleeding and sexual side effects, but gives a smaller improvement and has a higher chance of needing repeat treatment. TURP is more effective and longer lasting.
Men with a very large middle lobe, a pacemaker or certain metal implants, an active urinary infection, bladder stones or unexcluded prostate cancer may not be suitable. A urologist should check first.
Plan five to ten nights if you want the catheter removed and the first flow check done before flying. Travelling with a catheter is possible, but only after your urologist agrees.
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