Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)

A Trans-urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is an minimally-invasive operation, performed by your urologist, to remove the parts of your prostate gland that are pressing on your urethra in order to allow urine to flow more freely. The urologist passes a special tube through your urethra and uses a heated wire loop to shave off the overgrown areas of your prostate gland. In this way TURP is not an open surgery, and there will be no incisions or scars.

Not everybody with an enlarged prostate gland will require a TURP; however your urologist may recommend this procedure to you on the basis of your symptoms and the results of special investigations they have carried out. By allowing urine to flow more freely, a TURP can often relieve or reduce your symptoms.

Know about your prostate gland- Your prostate (see diagram) is a walnut-sized gland that lies at the base of your bladder (where urine is stored) surrounding the urethra (the tube that passes urine from your bladder, along your penis and out of your body).





The prostate gland is found only in males, and is part of the reproductive system. It produces nutrients for the sperms and produces components that make up the milky fluid (semen) that you produce when you ejaculate.

The most common cause of prostate gland enlargement is 'Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia', often shortened to 'BPH', which means extra-growth of normal (non-cancerous) cells. This process often begins at the age of 40, causing your prostate to gradually increase in size as you get older. BPH is very common and often exists with few or no symptoms. However as the prostate surrounds the urethra, the enlargement can squeeze the urethra making it difficult for you to pass urine. This may lead to symptoms that can include:

• Weak flow of urine
• Needing to strain to pass urine
• Not being able to empty the bladder completely, so needing to use the toilet more often both day and night.

To relieve the above symptoms of an enlarged prostate - TURP is carried out. Without TURP, your prostate gland may continue to enlarge, leading to worsening of your symptoms. It may also increase the risk of damage to your bladder and/or kidneys due to the increased pressure and stress that is required to pass urine through the squeezed urethra. Although there are other ways of treating the enlarged gland, TURP is the commonest type of surgery to treat an enlarged prostate gland.