Division of Urologic Surgery
The Division of Urologic Surgery, part of the Department of Surgery, offers exceptional patient care, research programs, and education and training opportunities.
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
Removal of part of the prostate gland to treat an enlarged prostate
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Expert Prostate Gland Resection Surgery
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) prostate care offers many treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). If other, more conservative treatment options are not enough to treat your BPH, your care team may recommend a surgical procedure such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
Understanding TURP
TURP is a "scraping" surgery. During the procedure, your urologist scrapes tissue out of your prostate. They control bleeding using electrocautery. The scraping produces a scab in the urethra (tube through which urine exits the body). If, during the course of TURP, the surgeon determines that your prostate is too large to use this technique, they will switch to prostatectomy.
After TURP Surgery
Your doctor will give you a prescription for antibiotics that you will take for a few days after surgery. This medication helps to prevent infection. Call your surgeon immediately if you experience:
- Chills
- Fever over 101° F
- Pain in your testicles
Because of the potential for bleeding, do not take aspirin or Advil for three weeks after surgery. Within one week of discharge, call our office to schedule your follow-up visit.
About one to two weeks after the operation, pieces of the scab will fall off and come out with the urine. As this occurs, you may notice bleeding. This is normal and you should not worry. Simply lie down and increase your fluid intake for a few hours. In most cases, the urine will clear. If bleeding occurs or persists for more than 12 hours, or if clots appear impairing your stream, call your surgeon.
Remember that your surgery was a prostate scraping and your surgeon did not remove all of the prostate. Therefore, you should continue to undergo monitoring and screening for prostate cancer as your primary care doctor recommends.
Full TURP Recovery Time
It will take six weeks from the date of surgery to fully recover from your operation. The healing timeline can be divided into two parts.
First Two Weeks After TURP
During the first two weeks from the date of your surgery, it is important to take it easy. You should do the following:
- Avoid lifting and straining.
- Avoid constipation by:
- Modifying your diet.
- Using stool softeners that your doctor has prescribed.
- Using gentle laxatives such as Milk of Magnesia that you can purchase at your local drug store.
- Be mindful of the way you sit. For example, sitting directly upright on a hard surface — such as an exercise bicycle seat — may cause bleeding. Reclining on a soft seat or sitting on a donut is best.
- Feel comfortable taking walks but not jogging or running.
- Avoid sexual activity during this time.
- Avoid driving as much as possible — especially long distances. Doing so can cause bleeding. You can ride in a car as a passenger.
Three to Six Weeks After TURP
During the second period of your recovery, you may begin regular activity. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- Return to work. You may feel well enough to return to work, but you may find it easier to begin on a half-day basis.
- Fatigue. It is common to become quite tired in the afternoon. If you do, it is best to take a nap.
- Golf. If you are a golfer, you may begin to swing a golf club at this time.
- Sexual activity. You may resume sexual activity, but only on a limited basis. Remember that the ejaculate may be directed back into the bladder (rather than out). This produces a dry orgasm which is a normal consequence of the operation. This should not change the quality of sex.
Gradually increase your overall activity during this period. By six to eight weeks after surgery, you should be back to your normal activity level.
