If your doctor has recommended a prostate biopsy, you might feel uncertain or even a little anxious — and that's completely normal. Many men hesitate at the idea of the procedure, often imagining it to be painful or invasive.
But the truth is, a prostate biopsy is a quick, outpatient procedure that plays a crucial role in detecting prostate cancer early, when it's most treatable. As urologic oncologist Dr. Brian Miles explains in this video, the experience is far more manageable than most expect.
Before and during your appointment
To prevent the slight risk of infection, you'll take an antibiotic the night before and the day of your procedure.
During a prostate biopsy:
- You'll lay on your side with your knees bent.
- The urologist will use a thin ultrasound probe to view the inside of your rectum.
- Your doctor will inject a local anesthetic around the prostate.
- Using a spring-loaded device with a hollow needle, the urologist retrieves small cores of prostate tissue.
There's no recovery time needed, and you'll be free to drive home on your own.
After the procedure
Here's what to know and expect after a prostate biopsy:
- Watch for signs of infection. If you develop a fever of 100 degrees or higher, go to the nearest emergency room.
- It's normal to see a bit of blood in the urine or stool for a day or two.
- If you're sexually active, your seminal fluid may be quite dark. This is also normal, but the discoloration may last as long as a month.
