TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate)

TURP treats urinary symptoms caused by a benign enlarged prostate. Working through the urethra, the surgeon cuts away the inner part of the gland that is squeezing the urine channel, leaving the outer shell.

It gives a strong, lasting improvement in flow and bladder emptying and has decades of evidence behind it. The usual trade-off is retrograde ejaculation, where semen passes into the bladder. It is not a cancer operation, and the remaining prostate still needs normal PSA monitoring.

What TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) involves

Before surgery you have a symptom score, flow test, ultrasound measurement of the prostate and residual urine, PSA and a urine culture. Under spinal or general anaesthetic a resectoscope is passed through the penis to the prostate. Using an electrified loop, the surgeon removes the obstructing tissue chip by chip from the bladder neck down to a landmark just above the sphincter muscle, which is preserved to protect continence. Bleeding points are sealed as the work proceeds. The chips are flushed out and examined by a pathologist. A three-way catheter is inserted and the bladder is irrigated with saline until the fluid runs clear.

Who is a good candidate for TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate)?

For men whose symptoms or complications persist despite medication and whose prostate is roughly 30 to 80 ml.

• Bothersome weak stream, hesitancy or night-time urination not controlled by tablets
• Urinary retention requiring a catheter
• Recurrent infections, bladder stones or bleeding due to the prostate
• Kidney strain from back pressure
• Prostate volume within the range suited to resection

It is usually not the right choice if:

• Very large prostates, generally over 80 to 100 ml, where enucleation such as HoLEP or simple prostatectomy works better
• Men for whom preserving ejaculation is a priority, who may prefer other options
• Those who cannot stop anticoagulants, for whom laser vaporisation is safer
• Untreated urinary infection
• Symptoms mainly due to an overactive or weak bladder rather than obstruction

Technique options

• Bipolar TURP: Resection in saline. Avoids the fluid absorption syndrome seen with older equipment and is now standard in most units.
• Monopolar TURP: The classic technique using glycine irrigation; still effective, with a time limit on resection.
• Bipolar enucleation or vaporisation: Variants using the same energy to shell out or vaporise tissue, for larger glands or men at bleeding risk.
• TUIP: A simple incision rather than resection for small prostates under 30 ml, with a lower rate of ejaculation change.

What happens during your treatment

The operation takes 45 to 90 minutes. With a spinal anaesthetic you feel nothing below the waist. Afterwards the catheter and irrigation stay in for 1 to 3 days, and you usually leave hospital once you pass urine well without it, after 2 to 3 nights.

Preparing for your trip

Plan for 7 to 10 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.

• Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
• Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
• Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
• Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly

Recovery and results

Stinging, urgency and pink urine are usual for 2 to 4 weeks, with occasional bleeding around the second week. Avoid heavy lifting, cycling, straining and sex for 3 to 4 weeks, and drink well. Flow is better straight away, while urgency settles over 6 to 12 weeks as the bladder adapts. Flying is generally reasonable a week after the catheter comes out if the urine is clear.

• Back to everyday activity: 3 to 4 weeks
• When results show: Flow improves immediately; bladder settles over 6 to 12 weeks
• How long they last: 10 to 15 years or more for most men

Safety, risks and revision policy

TURP is well established, with predictable side effects that you should weigh beforehand.

• Retrograde ejaculation in around 65 to 75 percent of men
• Bleeding needing transfusion, in about 2 percent
• Urinary infection
• Temporary urgency or leakage; lasting stress incontinence in under 1 percent
• Urethral stricture or bladder neck scarring in about 5 percent
• Erectile function is usually unchanged, but a small number report a decline
• Regrowth needing repeat surgery in roughly 1 in 10 men over ten years

Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.

Cost of TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) in Türkiye

Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:

• Prostate size and operating time
• Bipolar equipment and consumables
• Hospital nights and catheter care
• Pre-operative tests such as flow study and ultrasound
• Pathology of the removed tissue

Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

Frequently Asked Questions