Prostate surgery (TURP)
Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is an operation to remove part of your prostate gland. It's commonly used to treat urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate.
The prostate is a small gland located between your penis and bladder. It surrounds your urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to your penis, where it leaves your body). The prostate helps to make semen.
The prostate enlarges as you get older. As your prostate becomes enlarged, it squeezes your urethra. This can cause problems passing urine, such as:
- trouble starting to urinate
- a weak stream
- trouble stopping the flow, or dribbling
- flow stopping and starting
- often having an urgent need to go to the toilet
- feeling the need to go more often, sometimes with small amounts or none coming out
- getting up more than once at night.
Doctors usually recommend a TURP when your symptoms significantly affect your day-to-day living and aren't helped by medication.
Doctors believe that all older men have some prostate enlargement. But only one in eight men needs an operation.
The link below explains how the operation is done and what to expect after the operation.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by Urology Department, Canterbury DHB. Last reviewed August 2018.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
British Association of Urological Surgeons – Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate gland, retrieved October 2017.
Cancer Research UK Primary Care Education Research Group – PSA testing for prostate cancer (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/856976/
PSA_testing_for_prostate_cancer_information_for_well_men.pdf). Retrieved April 2016.
Cancer Society – Prostate cancer. Retrieved March 2022.
Canterbury Community HealthPathways – Prostate Cancer - Diagnosis, retrieved October 2017.
Kupe – Retrieved March 2022.
NHS – Prostatitis. Retrieved January 2019.
NHS – Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), retrieved September, 2017.
Patient.info – Prostate Gland Enlargement. Retrieved April 2016.
Patient.info – Prostatitis. Retrieved January 2019.
Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand. Retrieved March 2022.
Southern Cross – Enlarged prostate - benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Retrieved April 2016.
Urology Unit, Canterbury DHB. What happens after a prostate biopsy. Authorised by: Nurse Manager, Urology Unit. July 2016. Ref 237713.
WebMD – What is the prostate? (http://www.webmd.com/men/prostate-enlargement-bph/what-is-the-prostate#1). Retrieved April 2016.
Image and embedded video sources
Blood being taken image – From Shutterstock (image ID 510475060). April 2018.
Male reproductive system image – From Shutterstock (image ID 127210979). November 2015.
Man in countryside image – From Shutterstock (image ID 54026611). August 2018.
Microscope analysis image – From Shutterstock (image ID 606379304). April 2018.
Prostate surgery image – From Shutterstock (image ID 167475845). April 2018.
Tired man image – From Shutterstock (image ID 284497310). December 2015.
Page reference: 32613
Review key: HIPRH-45800
