Prostate surgery (TURP)

What is prostate surgery (TURP)?

TURP stands for transurethral resection of the prostate. The prostate is a gland that sits around the urethra (the tube urine passes through) just below the bladder. As it enlarges with age it can squeeze the urethra and block the flow of urine.

In a TURP, the surgeon passes a telescope along the urethra and removes the obstructing inner part of the prostate a piece at a time, creating a wider channel so urine flows more easily. There are no cuts in the skin. A catheter (bladder tube) is left in for a short time afterwards to wash out blood.

TURP is the operation most commonly used for troublesome benign prostate enlargement when medicines have not helped enough. It treats the blockage; it is not a treatment for prostate cancer, although the removed tissue is always examined and can occasionally reveal an unexpected cancer.

Types & techniques

There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.

TURP vs other options for an enlarged prostate

The best choice depends on prostate size, symptoms, fertility wishes and other health. A urologist should discuss the trade-offs with you.

Preparing for your surgery

• Be clear why TURP is advised, and whether medicines or other procedures have been considered.
• Discuss fertility: most men have dry orgasms afterwards, so raise this if you may want children.
• Tell the team about blood-thinning medicines (such as warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel or rivaroxaban); these often need adjusting.
• Mention any urinary infection, diabetes, heart or lung problems, or a pacemaker.
• Follow fasting instructions for the anaesthetic and arrange a lift home.
• Plan around 3–4 weeks off work, longer for heavy or physical jobs.
• Expect to go home with advice about a catheter and about drinking plenty of fluids.

What happens

TURP is done under a general anaesthetic (asleep) or a spinal anaesthetic (numb from the waist down) and usually takes about 45–60 minutes. You are normally given antibiotics beforehand.

The surgeon passes a telescope along the urethra into the bladder and removes the inner part of the prostate in small chips using a heated wire loop, then seals any bleeding points. The chips are sent to the laboratory. A catheter is placed at the end, and fluid is run in and out of the bladder to flush away blood and clots.

Most men stay in hospital for one to three nights, although some units do TURP as a day case. The catheter usually comes out between one day and one week later; passing urine may sting and feel frequent at first.

Is this operation right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

Anaesthetic choices

The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.

The single most important thing to understand is dry orgasm (retrograde ejaculation): UK information puts this at roughly 65–75% of men, it is usually permanent, and it can affect fertility even though orgasm itself still feels normal. If fathering children matters to you, raise it before surgery, as fertility-sparing alternatives exist. Ask your surgeon about their own rates of repeat surgery, bleeding and incontinence.

Published figures to discuss

Reported rates vary with prostate size, technique (standard versus bipolar or laser), surgeon experience and how outcomes are defined. The figures below come from UK patient information (BAUS) and are cautious guides, not guarantees.

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

Recovery — what to expect, and when

Urine flow often improves quickly, but the bladder can stay irritable for a while. Most men need about 3–4 weeks at home, with the catheter and any bleeding being the main early issues.

• Stinging or burning and needing to pass urine often in the early days
• Blood-stained urine on and off, including a bleed around 10–14 days
• Dry orgasm once you resume sexual activity
• An urgent or overactive bladder that can take weeks to settle

Aftercare

• Drink about twice your usual fluids for the first 24–48 hours to flush the bladder.
• Follow the team's advice on catheter care if you go home with one.
• Take any prescribed antibiotics or other tablets as directed.
• Avoid heavy lifting, straining and strenuous activity during recovery.
• Start gentle pelvic-floor exercises to help bladder control.
• If you bleed 10–14 days after going home, increase your fluids; contact your GP if it does not settle.
• Seek urgent help for severe bleeding, blood clots or sudden inability to pass urine.
• Keep your follow-up appointment and ask for your tissue (pathology) result.

• Plenty of fluids planned for the first couple of days
• Any prescribed antibiotics or tablets collected
• Lift home and help for the first night arranged
• About 3–4 weeks off work, more for heavy jobs
• Pelvic-floor exercise instructions to hand
• Understanding of catheter care if going home with one
• Clinic's contact number saved for bleeding or retention

⚠ Get urgent help if…

• Severe bleeding or passing blood clots
• Sudden inability to pass urine
• Fever, shivering or feeling generally unwell (possible infection)
• Burning or strong-smelling urine that is getting worse
• Confusion, nausea or breathlessness in the early period after surgery
• A swollen, painful catheter or one that stops draining

Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A good result is a freer, stronger urine stream with less straining and, over time, fewer trips to the toilet. Flow often improves straight away, though an irritable bladder can take up to three months to settle. Most men get worthwhile relief of their symptoms.

TURP does not stop the prostate ageing, and tissue can regrow over years, so a small number of men need a further procedure later. The removed tissue is examined; if it shows an unsuspected cancer this is discussed at a specialist team meeting before any further decisions, and you and your GP are told the result.

For most men the benefit lasts many years. Because the outer part of the prostate remains and can continue to grow, symptoms occasionally return and a repeat procedure is needed in a minority. Ongoing prostate checks remain sensible, as TURP does not remove the risk of future prostate problems.

Combining with other procedures

TURP is sometimes done alongside other bladder procedures, such as removing bladder stones or a small bladder tumour, if these are found at the same time. Your urologist will explain anything done in addition and why.

Follow-up & long-term care

You are usually reviewed a few weeks after surgery to check your flow and symptoms. Tissue (pathology) results take about 14–21 days; any showing cancer are discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting before decisions, and you and your GP are informed. You will be told who to contact for bleeding, infection or trouble passing urine.

Revision and secondary surgery reality

• Because the outer prostate can regrow, a minority of men need a repeat TURP or other procedure years later.
• Scarring or narrowing of the urethra or bladder neck sometimes needs a further small operation.
• If urinary leakage persists, further assessment and treatment may be needed.
• An unsuspected cancer found in the tissue is managed separately after a specialist team discussion.

Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.

What good aftercare looks like

• Clear catheter-care instructions and district-nurse support where needed.
• Written advice on fluids, activity, pelvic-floor exercises and the expected 10–14 day bleed.
• A reliable process for getting tissue (pathology) results, with multidisciplinary review if cancer is found.
• A named contact and urgent route for bleeding, infection or inability to pass urine.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

• The surgeon's fee and their experience
• The anaesthetic (general or spinal) and anaesthetist's fee
• Theatre and facility fees and the number of nights in hospital
• The technique used (standard/bipolar TURP versus laser, which can differ in cost)
• Laboratory analysis of the removed tissue
• Follow-up appointments and how complications would be handled

• The surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital/theatre fees
• The expected number of nights in hospital
• Whether laboratory analysis of removed tissue is included
• Catheter care and any district-nurse support after discharge
• What follow-up is included
• What happens, and what it would cost, if there is bleeding, infection or a need to return to theatre

On the NHS? TURP is commonly available on the NHS for troublesome benign prostate enlargement when medicines have not helped enough; some men choose private care for speed or choice of technique.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.

Consent traps and marketing red flags

These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.

Choosing a surgeon safely

• Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
• Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
• You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
• Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
• You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.

• Why is TURP the best option for me rather than laser surgery, an implant (UroLift) or steam (Rezum)?
• How likely am I to have a dry orgasm, and could a fertility-sparing option suit me?
• What are your own rates of repeat surgery, bleeding and urinary leakage?
• How long will I have a catheter and how long should I expect to be off work?
• What will happen if the tissue shows an unexpected cancer?
• Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
• Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
• What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
• What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
• What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
• Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
• What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Find a verified surgeon for prostate surgery (turp)

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NHS — Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) NHS — TURP risks BAUS — TURP for benign prostate enlargement (patient leaflet) NICE NG97 — Lower urinary tract symptoms in men (management) Transurethral resection of the prostate — StatPearls (NCBI)

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.