Published study · n=20 · 6-month follow-up
Results: published study data and its limits
Published data on THREM for refractory CP/CPPS: score changes in 20 patients at 6-month follow-up, and what these numbers cannot tell you.
Evidence boundary: supported, not supported, still unknown
Evidence supports
- In 20 men with refractory CP/CPPS, pain, urinary and quality-of-life scores were lower at 6 months than before 7 days of THREM (DOI: 10.21037/tau-23-386).
- 17 of 20 follow-up completers self-rated at least 60% relief of their main symptoms. That figure belongs to this cohort only.
Evidence does not support
- It cannot prove THREM caused the change, because there was no control group.
- 17/20 is not a general response rate, a cure rate, or a result for men over 60 or men with BPH or prostate cancer.
- It cannot separate the enema from the massage, or show that THREM is better than other care.
Still unknown
- Long-term recurrence is unknown; follow-up stopped at 6 months.
- Systematic safety is unknown; the paper did not fully collect adverse events.
- Routine-practice case counts are unaudited, so this site does not publish them.
Key data from the published study
A single-center retrospective study published in Translational Andrology and Urology (2024): 20 men with refractory CP/CPPS received THREM for 7 consecutive days and showed lower pain, urinary and quality-of-life scores at 6-month follow-up. All figures below come from the paper itself.
Of the 20 patients who completed follow-up, 17 self-rated at least 60% relief of their main symptoms. This is a patient-reported figure and is not an “effectiveness rate” or “cure rate”.
20 men with refractory CP/CPPS completed the 6-month follow-up questionnaires
Published in Translational Andrology and Urology (2024), DOI: 10.21037/tau-23-386. The paper does not report the total number initially treated or losses to follow-up.
Study design at a glance
- Design
- Single-center, retrospective, pre–post comparison; no randomization or control group
- Sample
- 20 men with refractory CP/CPPS, aged 18–60, mean age about 38
- Inclusion
- Symptoms for over 1 year and inadequate response to at least three routine treatments including oral medication
- Exclusion
- BPH or prostate cancer, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, psychiatric illness, other serious comorbidities
- Intervention
- Chinese herbal retention enema plus perineal massage, once daily for 7 days
- Time points
- Questionnaire scores before treatment and at 6 months
- Journal
- Translational Andrology and Urology (peer-reviewed, 2024)
Limitations to keep in mind when reading these numbers
- No control group: natural fluctuation, placebo effects or other concurrent factors cannot be excluded
- Small, single-center sample: results may reflect selection bias and have not been replicated elsewhere
- Retrospective, self-reported questionnaires: risk of recall and reporting bias
- Incomplete denominator: only patients who completed both questionnaires were analyzed; drop-outs were not reported
- Combined intervention: the separate contributions of enema and massage cannot be distinguished
- Follow-up of only 6 months and no systematic adverse-event collection: long-term recurrence and safety remain unknown
Clinical observations beyond the paper
The team continues to use the THREM protocol in daily practice and compares NIH-CPSI, IPSS and VAS scores before and after treatment. These observations, however, have not been independently audited or peer reviewed, and their sample composition and follow-up completeness cannot be publicly verified.
This page therefore does not publish any case counts, “response rates” or “cure rates” drawn from routine practice. Publishing such figures without auditable methods would mislead patients about what to expect.
If auditable registry data or controlled studies become available in future, this page will be updated with clear statements of data source, sample definition and statistical methods.
About patient stories and testimonials
Personal experiences can help explain a care journey, but they cannot prove effectiveness or predict another person’s outcome. This site does not use individual stories as proof of results — in particular, it does not use the experiences of older men, men with BPH or post-surgical patients to imply eligibility, because these groups fall outside what the current study can support. Any patient feedback published in future will follow these standards:
- Written consent from the patient, revocable at any time
- No conclusive language such as “cured”, “painless” or “worked after one session”
- Clearly labelled as an individual experience, not a typical result
- No selective presentation; patients who did not improve are acknowledged
Questions patients ask most
How long does THREM treatment take?
The published protocol was once daily for 7 consecutive days; the clinic currently schedules 7–10 days, with the exact number decided after an in-person visit. Responses vary widely and we do not promise how quickly effects appear.
Does 17/20 mean it works for 85% of people?
No. 17/20 is the self-reported proportion among 20 follow-up completers in a small, uncontrolled retrospective study with unreported drop-outs. It shows that improvement was observed in that cohort; it is not a general “effectiveness rate” and cannot predict your individual result.
Will symptoms come back after treatment?
The study followed patients only to 6 months, so there are no long-term recurrence data and we cannot quote a recurrence rate. CP/CPPS tends to fluctuate and recur; after any treatment, continue to attend to pelvic floor function, sleep, mood and lifestyle.
Am I a candidate for this treatment?
The study enrolled men aged 18–60 who had not responded to several routine treatments; men over 60 and those with BPH or prostate cancer were excluded. Suitability is decided by the doctor after an in-person visit and full differential diagnosis. For fever, blood in the urine or acute voiding difficulty, seek local emergency care first.
Wondering whether an in-person evaluation makes sense for you?
Review the evidence and eligibility boundaries first, then call +86 134 7280 6893 or use WeChat +86 13472806893 to share your symptoms, duration and prior treatments; the team will reply on whether a visit is worthwhile.
Ask about an in-person evaluation