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Risks can include:

• Heavy bleeding. Some men lose enough blood during TURP to require a blood transfusion. This is rare. Men with larger prostates appear to be at higher risk of significant blood loss.
• Low sodium in the blood. This rare complication is called TURP syndrome or transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome. It occurs when the body absorbs too much of the fluid used to wash (irrigate) the surgical area during the procedure. TURP syndrome can be life-threatening if it isn't treated. A technique called bipolar TURP allows the use of a salt (saline) solution for irrigation, which lessens the risk of TURP syndrome.
• Temporary difficulty urinating. You may have trouble urinating (urinary retention) for a few days after the procedure. Until you can urinate on your own, you will need to have a tube inserted through your penis to carry urine out of your bladder (urinary catheter).
• Urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections are a possible complication after any enlarged prostate procedure. An infection is increasingly likely to occur the longer you have a catheter in place and may require antibiotics or other treatment. In some cases, men who have TURP have recurring urinary tract infections.
• Difficulty holding urine. Rarely, loss of bladder control (incontinence) is a long-term complication of TURP.
• Dry orgasm. TURP can cause retrograde ejaculation, which means semen released during sexual climax (ejaculation) enters your bladder rather than exiting the penis. Retrograde ejaculation isn't harmful and generally doesn't affect sexual pleasure. But it can interfere with your ability to father a child. This long-term side effect occurs in about 75 percent of men who have TURP.
• Erectile dysfunction. The inability to keep or maintain an erection is a possible long-term side effect of TURP. While this isn't common with TURP, it can occur.
• Need for re-treatment. Some men require follow-up treatment after TURP, either because symptoms return over time or because they never adequately improve. This is less common with TURP than with less invasive office-based prostate treatments. In some cases, further treatment is needed because TURP causes narrowing (stricture) of the urethra or the bladder neck.

Before the procedure, your doctor may want to do a test that uses a visual scope to look inside your urethra and bladder (cystoscopy). This allows the doctor to check the size of your prostate and examine your urinary system. Your doctor may also want to do other tests, such as blood tests or tests to specifically measure the prostate or urine flow.

Follow your doctor's instructions on what to do before your treatment. Here are some issues to discuss with your doctor:

• Your medications. Tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements you take. This is especially important if you take blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin) or clopidogrel (Plavix), and nonprescription pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others). Your surgeon may ask you to stop taking medications that increase your risk of bleeding several days before the surgery.
• Fasting before the procedure. Your doctor will likely ask you to not eat or drink anything after midnight. On the morning of your procedure, take only the medications your doctor tells you to with a small sip of water.
• Arrangements after the procedure. Ask your doctor how long to expect to be in the hospital, and arrange ahead of time for a ride home. You won't be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.
• Activity restrictions. You may not be able to work or do strenuous activity for several weeks after surgery (typically three to six weeks). Ask your doctor how much recovery time you may need.

TURP generally takes 60 to 90 minutes. You'll be given either a spinal anesthetic, which allows you to be awake during the procedure but unable to feel pain in the surgical area, or a general anesthetic, which will put you to sleep. The doctor may also give you a dose of antibiotics to prevent infection.

During the procedure

A combined visual and surgical instrument (resectoscope) is inserted into the tip of your penis and extended through your urethra and into the prostate area. By accessing the prostate through your penis, your doctor won't need to make any cuts (incisions) on the outside of your body. The resectoscope has a light, valves for controlling irrigating fluid, and an electrical loop to cut tissue and seal blood vessels.

The doctor will use the resectoscope to trim tissue from the inside of your prostate gland, one small piece at a time. As small pieces of tissue are cut from inside your prostate, irrigating fluid carries them into your bladder. They're removed at the end of the operation.

BPH usually isn't a symptom of prostate cancer, and it doesn't increase your risk of prostate cancer. However, the prostate tissue from your procedure will be sent to a lab to check for hidden cancer cells or other conditions.

After the procedure

After surgery, you'll need to stay in the hospital for one to two days. Talk to your doctor about what you can expect and any precautions you need to take after you go home.

• You'll have a catheter. The catheter enters through the tip of your penis and goes into your bladder to drain your urine into a collection bag. The catheter is generally left in place for four to seven days, until you're able to urinate on your own. In some cases, a catheter is needed for a longer period of time — especially if you have a relatively large prostate. You may urinate around the catheter, which is normal because your bladder may try and squeeze out more urine than the catheter can accommodate.
• Urination may be painful. You may have a sense of urgency as urine passes over the surgical area. You may also need to urinate frequently. Painful urination generally improves in one to four weeks.
• You may see blood in your urine. This is common right after surgery. If you have clots or so much blood in your urine that you can't see through it, contact your doctor.

These steps can help you recover after your procedure.

• Drink plenty of water to flush out the bladder.
• Avoid straining during a bowel movement. Eat fiber-containing foods and avoid foods that can cause constipation. Ask your doctor if you should take a laxative if you do become constipated.
• Don't take blood-thinning medications until your doctor says it's OK.
• Don't do any strenuous activity, such as heavy lifting, for four to six weeks or until your doctor says it's OK.
• Don't have sex. You'll likely be able to resume sexual activity in about four to six weeks.
• Don't drive until your doctor says it's OK. Generally, you can drive once your catheter is removed and you're no longer taking prescription pain medications.

Following TURP, most men experience significant relief of symptoms. Because surgery leaves behind part of the prostate gland, it is possible for BPH symptoms to redevelop. However, surgery can offer relief for between seven and 15 years for most people.

After TURP, it's important to have a digital rectal exam once a year to check your prostate and screen for prostate cancer, as you would normally. If you notice any worsening urinary symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor. In some cases, follow-up treatment to ease symptoms is needed, particularly if many years have passed since TURP was done.