Prostate Surgery

The prostate is an organ located at the base of the bladder in men. In the event that the prostate becomes swollen or damaged, it may need to be surgically removed. This surgery is called a prostatectomy. The most common reason for the prostate to become enlarged to the point where it needs to be removed is prostate cancer.

Because the prostate surrounds a portion of the urethra (the tube that carries urine away from the bladder and conveys semen during ejaculation), it can cause health problems if it becomes enlarged. A swollen prostate can make it difficult to urinate and can make men more susceptible to urinary tract infections. If these symptoms can’t be alleviated using nonsurgical methods, a doctor may recommend that the best treatment is to have some or all of the prostate gland removed.

5 Things You Need to Know

  1. Every year, more than 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Of these, 50,000 undergo surgery to remove the prostate.
  2. If you experience any of the following urinary symptoms, you may have a problem with your prostate: painful urination, slow urination, a frequent need to urinate, inability to completely empty your bladder or blood in your urine.
  3. Prostates can be removed in several different ways, including radical retropubic prostatectomy (which involves an abdominal incision), radical perineal prostatectomy (which involves an incision in the perineum) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
  4. It’s recommended that males begin regular screening for prostate cancer at age 35, especially if they have a family history of prostate cancer.
  5. After the prostate has been removed, some men experience erectile dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that anti-impotence drugs like Viagra can play a key role in reviving the sexual abilities of these men.

3 Questions You Need to Ask Your Doctor

  1. Is prostate surgery necessary for me?
  2. What is the recovery process like?
  3. How will having my prostate removed affect my sexual function?

Also Known As: Prostatectomy

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