TURP (Prostate Surgery for Blockage): What to Expect
A TURP removes the part of an enlarged prostate that is blocking urine flow, using a scope passed through the urethra. It can greatly improve urination. A catheter is used for a short time afterward.
Before your procedure
- Take only the medicines your care team approved. If you take a blood thinner, aspirin, or a supplement and were not told what to do, call the office — do not stop anything on your own.
- Arrange a ride home, since you may receive sedation or anesthesia.
- Follow your fasting instructions.
- Plan for a possible overnight hospital stay.
The day of
Under anesthesia, your care team passes a scope through the urethra and trims away the blocking prostate tissue. A catheter is placed afterward, sometimes with a gentle continuous rinse of the bladder to keep it clear. Many people stay in the hospital overnight.
The first few days
The catheter is usually removed within a day or two. After it comes out, expect:
- Blood in the urine that comes and goes
- Burning, urgency, and needing to urinate often
- Some small clots
Drink plenty of water to keep the urine light. Avoid straining, heavy lifting, and hard exercise. Keep your bowels soft to avoid straining. See the Catheter Care Guide while the catheter is in.
The first few weeks
It is common for the urine to turn bloody again around 1 to 2 weeks after surgery, when a scab inside heals. Rest and extra fluids usually settle it.
Avoid heavy lifting and hard activity for about 2 to 4 weeks. Many men have a dry orgasm afterward — semen goes back into the bladder instead of out. This is common, not harmful, and usually permanent.
When to call your care team
Call the office number on your discharge paperwork right away, or seek emergency care, if you have any of these:
- You cannot urinate at all after the catheter is removed
- Heavy bleeding, thick blood like ketchup, or clots that block urination
- Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or shaking chills
- Severe pain not helped by your medicine
If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or another life-threatening emergency, call 911.
MyUrologyCare — TURPRead or reprint this guide at: myurologycare.org/procedures/turp.html
Educational only — not medical advice and not a substitute for your care team. Follow your own discharge instructions. Call the office number on your discharge paperwork with questions. For an emergency, call 911.