Advanced Oncology & Radiotherapy
Periprostatic Spacer Gel Injections
A protective internal cushion used during prostate radiotherapy. This temporary gel creates a safe gap between the prostate and the bowel, significantly reducing side effects like urgency and irritation while your cancer is treated.
Key takeaways
- A protective internal cushion used during prostate radiotherapy. This temporary gel creates a safe gap between the prostate and the bowel, significantly reducing side effects like urgency and irritation while your cancer is treated.
- Specialty: Advanced Oncology & Radiotherapy
15–20
Typical injection timemin
Up to 75
Fewer bowel side effects%
3
Protects during radiotherapymonths
Treatment Overview
About Periprostatic Spacer Gel Injections
A prostate spacer gel is a clever, temporary cushion designed to protect your bowel during radiotherapy. Because your prostate and your back passage (rectum) sit directly against each other, radiation aimed at the prostate can sometimes irritate the bowel wall.
During this quick procedure, a specialist injects a small amount of a biodegradable, water-based gel into the space between the two organs. This creates a protective gap of about 1cm. This small "shield" allows your doctors to target the cancer with higher, more effective doses of radiation while keeping your bowel safe from unnecessary exposure.
Safety Information
Benefits, Risks & Side Effects
01
Benefits
The primary benefit is peace of mind during your cancer treatment. Clinical trials have shown that using a spacer can reduce bowel side effects (like urgency, diarrhoea, or rectal bleeding) by up to 75%.
It also helps to protect the delicate nerves that control sexual function, which run very close to the area. The gel stays stable and firm for the full three months of your treatment, ensuring you are protected from your first session of radiotherapy to your last.
02
Risks
This is a minimally invasive procedure with a very high safety record. The most common minor risks include a small amount of bruising and feeling of fulness between your legs for a few number of hours.
In very rare cases (fewer than 1 in 20,000 men), the needle may cause a tiny nick in the bowel wall or the gel may be placed slightly out of position causing an ulcer of the bowel wall. Because our specialists use live ultrasound imaging to guide the needle, these risks are kept to an absolute minimum.
03
Side Effects
Most men find they have very few side effects. You might feel a temporary 'feeling of fullness' in your back passage—similar to the sensation of needing to go to the toilet—but this usually fades within 48 hours.
You may also notice some minor tenderness or bruising in the area between your scrotum and back passage for a few days. Because the gel is water-based and naturally absorbed by your body, there are no long-term side effects or 'foreign' materials left behind.
Patient Journey
What to Expect
A step-by-step guide through your Periprostatic Spacer Gel Injections journey—from preparation and what happens during the procedure to recovery and aftercare.
01/ 03
Before Procedure
Patients typically have a pre-operative consultation and a review of their recent MRI. You may be asked to start a 3-day course of antibiotics the day before and perform a small home enema on the morning of the procedure to clear the rectum. If the procedure is under general anaesthetic, standard fasting (6 hours) is required.
02/ 03
During Procedure
Performed under local or general anaesthesia as a day-case. Using a transrectal ultrasound probe for guidance, a fine needle is inserted through the perineum. The surgeon first 'hydro-dissects' the space with saline before injecting the hydrogel. The gel is a liquid that solidifies within 10 seconds into a soft, marshmallow-like cushion. The injection itself takes about 15–20 minutes.
03/ 03
After Procedure
After a short recovery period, you can return home.
You should avoid heavy lifting, cycling, and strenuous exercise for 3–5 days.
The gel remains in place for 3 months, during which you undergo your radiotherapy.
After 6 months, the gel naturally liquefies and is absorbed by the body, eventually being excreted harmlessly in your urine.
Our Commitment
Care you can trust
Every treatment is delivered to the same standard: senior consultants, a personalised plan, and the safety of an accredited private hospital behind you.
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Receive evidence-based treatments delivered by senior NHS consultants in a professional, specialist setting.
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Patient Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this treatment and what to expect.
3 questions
Most men do not feel the gel at all once the initial procedure soreness has settled (usually within 24–48 hours). Because the gel is soft and mostly water, it mimics the density of natural body tissue. You may have a slight sensation of 'heaviness' in the first day or two, but it does not interfere with sitting, walking, or going to the toilet.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
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The gel is specifically designed to protect the rectum, which is the organ most at risk of radiation damage due to its close proximity to the back of the prostate. While it doesn't physically move the bladder away (as the bladder sits on top of the prostate), by protecting the rectum, it allows your oncologist to be more precise with the radiation beams, which can indirectly help reduce the overall 'scatter' of radiation to the bladder.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
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The gel is engineered to maintain its full volume and protective position for 3 months (90 days). This is long enough to cover even the longest courses of conventional radiotherapy. It only begins to slowly liquefy and be absorbed by the body after the 12-week mark, meaning there is a significant 'buffer zone' for most treatment plans.
Reviewed 2 Mar 2026
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