What Is TURP Surgery for an Enlarged Prostate?

Plenty of men hear "prostate surgery" and picture a big operation with an incision across the abdomen. TURP isn't that. The video at the top of this page — an educational explainer running just under seven minutes — walks through transurethral resection of the prostate for an enlarged prostate, and its own description stresses that it is procedure education, not personal advice. Read on for the misunderstandings that surround this operation, and what actually happens instead.

Myth: the whole prostate is removed

It isn't. When the prostate grows with age — a benign enlargement, often shortened to BPH — it can squeeze the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, so the stream weakens and emptying feels incomplete. TURP targets only the inner tissue that's doing the squeezing. Removing that obstructing part widens the channel again; the outer prostate stays where it is. That's also why TURP is a treatment for troublesome urine symptoms from benign enlargement, not an operation for prostate cancer.

Fact: the route in is the urine passage itself

No external cut is needed. The surgeon passes a slim instrument called a resectoscope through the urethra — the same passage urine uses — until it reaches the prostate. Working through that instrument, the surgeon trims away the obstructing tissue in small pieces, sometimes called chips; you can see that endoscopic view described in this site's second TURP recording, which explains how the resectoscope removes the obstructing lobes as chips of tissue. The removed tissue can be sent for laboratory examination, and the area is washed and checked before the instrument comes out. Anaesthesia is used, and your own team will explain which type they plan in your case.

What surprises people afterwards

A thin tube — a catheter — is usually left in the bladder for a short period after the operation, so urine can drain while the area settles, and the urine may look pink at first. Most men notice the stream improves once things heal, though that change isn't instant and frequency or urgency can linger for a while. Your discharge advice will cover activity, drinking, and what to watch for; follow it, and get medical help promptly if you can't pass urine, develop a fever, or have heavy bleeding. If you're comparing men's urology procedures more broadly, our guide to what a vasectomy is covers a very different operation done for a very different reason.

MedicalVideos.com has published trusted medical videos since 2007. The site was founded by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD — physician and researcher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TURP the same as having the prostate removed?
No. TURP removes only the inner, obstructing part of an enlarged prostate through the urethra. Removing the whole prostate is a different operation, done for different reasons, and the two shouldn't be confused.

Will I have a scar?
TURP is performed through the natural urine passage, so there is no external incision and no surface scar from the procedure itself. Healing still has to happen inside, which is why aftercare advice matters.

How long will the catheter stay in?
That varies from person to person and between hospitals. It is usually a short-term measure while drainage is needed after the operation, and your team will tell you when they expect to remove yours.

Educational only — this article is general information about TURP, not medical advice and not a recommendation for or against any operation. Whether TURP is suitable for you, and how yours should be performed, are decisions for your own urologist, who knows your history.