The published study
In 2024, Dr. Zhiyong Wu’s team published in Translational Andrology and Urology (TAU). Twenty men with refractory CP/CPPS received THREM once daily for 7 consecutive days. At 6-month follow-up, VAS pain, IPSS and NIH-CPSI quality-of-life scores were lower than at baseline with statistically significant differences, and 17 of 20 follow-up completers self-rated at least 60% relief of their main symptoms. Source: https://doi.org/10.21037/tau-23-386
Study design snapshot
Single-center, retrospective, pre–post comparison without randomization or a control group. Inclusion: men aged 18–60 with symptoms for over a year and inadequate response to several routine treatments. Exclusion: BPH or prostate cancer, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, psychiatric illness and other serious comorbidities. Only patients who completed both baseline and 6-month questionnaires were analyzed; the total number initially treated and losses to follow-up were not reported.
What the evidence can and cannot support
The study shows that score improvements were observed in this small cohort. It cannot prove THREM caused the improvement (no control group), cannot separate the enema from the massage, cannot show superiority over other treatments, and says nothing about long-term recurrence or systematic safety. Describing 17/20 as an “effectiveness rate” or “cure rate”, or extrapolating it to all CP/CPPS patients, goes beyond what the paper supports.
About team clinical observations
Beyond the paper, the team continues to use this protocol in daily practice. Those observations have not been independently audited or peer reviewed, and their sample composition, assessment methods and follow-up completeness cannot be publicly verified. This site therefore does not publish any proportions or case counts drawn from routine practice. If auditable registry data or controlled studies become available, this page will be updated with sources and methods.
Full citation
Wu Z, et al. Transl Androl Urol. 2024;13(5):759–768. DOI: 10.21037/tau-23-386. A visual summary of the outcome measures and limitations is on the Results page; for disease basics, see authoritative sources such as the US NIDDK.