Trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

Benign prostate enlargement presents with symptoms including:

• Peeing more frequently and urgently
• Finding it difficult to begin peeing
• Accidentally leaking pee
• Straining to pee
• Needing to pee during the night
• Difficulty fully emptying your bladder

These symptoms can vary from mild to serve. More persistent symptoms can make going to the toilet inconvenient and uncomfortable, which can really affect your everyday quality of life.

These symptoms don't necessarily mean you will need a TURP operation. There are several reasons why you might experience urinary symptoms, including a urinary tract infection, so it is important to visit your doctor about your problem. They can assess your situation and accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms, helping find the right treatment for you. 

TURP - prostate reduction surgery

Please be aware that the following prices are a guide price. Your final price will be confirmed in writing following your consultation and any necessary diagnostic tests.

Patient pathway	Initial consultation	Diagnostic Investigations	Main treatment	Post discharge care	Guide price
Hospital fees	N/A	Not included	£6,700	Included	£6,700
Consultants fees from	£200	N/A	Included	Included	£200
Guide price	£6,900

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant’s outpatient appointment fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 12.9% APR.

If you have private health insurance, a TURP procedure will usually be covered by your provider. Speak to your insurer directly to find out.

Prostate cancer can press on your urethra, making it difficult for you to empty your bladder, and causing other distressing urinary symptoms. These are similar to the symptoms caused by BPH. 

TURP can be performed to remove some of the cancer from your prostate so you can pass urine more easily. 

The procedure does not cure prostate cancer, but it can significantly relieve symptoms, helping improve your overall quality of life. 

You can usually see a consultant urologist within 48 hours of booking your appointment with us.

During this initial appointment, your consultant will ask in detail about your general health and your medical history. They will want to know about any existing medical conditions, as well as the current urinary symptoms you are experiencing. They'll ask you how these symptoms impact your everyday life, how often they occur, and whether you have had any treatment for them yet.

In order to assess your symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis of your condition, your consultant will next carry out a gentle physical examination of your prostate through your bottom (rectum). This is called a rectal examination. They might also ask you to complete a chart that records how much liquids you typically consume, how often you urinate, and whether you experience any leakage. They might also organise blood tests to check your kidneys are functioning properly. 

If you have an enlarged prostate, they will share more information about TURP and whether it could be the right treatment for you.

Your first consultation is a safe space for you to ask as many questions as you like, however big or small. Your consultant will be an expert in TURP and will have extensive experience in helping people with urinary problems, so do take the opportunity to make the most of their knowledge. Whether it's easing your fears about having surgery or explaining what to expect from your recovery, no question is the wrong question. 

The time you'll wait between your initial consultation and having surgery (or any other treatment you're recommended) will differ from person to person. Your surgeon will give you a good idea of timelines during your initial consultation, after which they'll put together a fixed-price treatment package based on everything you have discussed together. Once you've agreed to the costs, we can get you booked in to have your surgery at a time that suits you.

In preparation for a TURP operation, you might need to have your bloods taken. This is to check your general health before the procedure. An ECG will also be performed to check the activity of your heart. 

You might also be advised to stop smoking (if applicable) during the lead-up to having the procedure.

Your healthcare team will ensure you know exactly how to prepare for TURP surgery, so there won't be any surprises along the way. If you need to stop smoking for a short period before surgery, they will offer offer advice and support on how best to do this. 

Make sure you tell your doctor or nurse if you're currently taking medication to prevent blood clots. These medications could cause heavy bleeding during surgery, so you may be advised to stop taking them in the lead-up to your operation.

TURP is either performed under general anaesthetic (you will not be awake) or spinal anaesthetic (you will be awake, but numb from the waist down). In both instances, your legs will be placed in stirrups to keep them apart. 

The procedure is performed using a specialist medical device called a resectoscope. This is a thin metal tube that contains a light, camera and wire. This device is connected to a monitor to help your consultant look inside your urethra and perform the procedure. Your consultant will begin by passing the resectoscope through your urethra until it reaches your prostate. Next, your consultant will remove part of your prostate with the specialist wire, which is heated is with an electrical current that destroys abnormal parts of your prostate.

A thin tube called a catheter is then inserted into your urethra to pump fluid into your bladder and flush away parts of prostate that have been destroyed.

TURP usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes to perform. 

Transurethral laser resection or vaporisation of the prostate

This is an alternative to TURP, performed using a cystoscopy. A cystoscopy is a procedure that uses a cystoscope, which is a thin tube with a camera and light attached to the end of it. This tube is connected to a monitor, helping your consultant look inside your urethra clearly. Your consultant will use a laser attached to the cystoscope to fire pulses of energy to burn away prostate tissue.

With any surgery, there are potential risks and complications. TURP is considered a low risk operation and the below complications are only a possibility. Your consultant should be able to give you more information on how likely you are personally to experience side effects or complications after surgery. 

General complications of any operation

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clot in your leg
• Blood clot in your lung

Specific complications of this operation

• Problems having an erection
• Difficulty passing urine
• Incontinence
• Needing to pass urine more often and sudden urges to pass urine
• Reduction in fertility
• Narrowing of your urethra

How long will I need to stay in hospital?

You will need to stay in hospital for one to three days after surgery. In some cases you can leave on the same day, but this depends on your individual circumstances. 

You will have usually have your catheter removed between one day and one week after surgery. If you have to return home with a catheter, your consultant will show you how to use it safely and correctly at home. You will have a follow-up appointment to have your catheter removed, if needed.

Recovering at home

You will not be able to drive home after surgery, so you will need to arrange for a friend or family member to collect you. We can arrange for a taxi to collect you from hospital if you would prefer.

It is normal to feel tired and have generally low energy for the first week after surgery. It is likely you will feel a stinging sensation the first few times you pee. This will fade the more often you go to the toilet.

You should avoid sex, strenuous exercise, and driving for at least three weeks after the procedure.

You should be able to return to work within four weeks, but this depends on the type of work you do. For example, if your job involves heavy lifting, you might need to take longer off. 

You should exercise as regularly as you can throughout your recovery period, but avoid vigorous exercise. Gentle walks are a safe way to remain fit as you recover. 

4-6 weeks after surgery

It usually takes between four and six weeks to fully recover from a TURP procedure. 

We answer your frequently asked questions about TURP. 

What is TURP?

A trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure to cut away part of your prostate. Your prostate is a small gland in your pelvis. It is located between your penis and bladder and surrounds your urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to your penis).

How long should you bleed for after TURP?

Bleeding usually stops around three weeks after surgery. Around a week or two after the operation, the amount of blood might increase as the scab on your prostate falls off. Remember to drink plenty of fluids (as you would to treat a urinary tract infection) to flush out any blood or small blood clots. 

Is TURP done under general anaesthesia?

TURP is either performed under general anaesthesia (you will not be awake) or spinal anaesthesia (you will be awake, but numb from the waist down).

Is TURP surgery painful?

The surgery will not be painful, because you will be under either general or local anaesthesia. But you might experience some discomfort and bladder spasms from the catheter, which is left in place for up to a week after surgery. 

How much does TURP cost?

The cost of TURP starts from about £6,900.

The exact cost varies depending where you receive treatment. At Circle Health Group, our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant’s outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 14.9% APR.

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:   

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine  
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs  
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams  
• Support by the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end  
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included  
• Flexible payment options to spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about this procedure, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in June 2022. Next review due June 2025.

1. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), NHS Inform
2. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), NHS
3. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), Mayo Clinic
4. Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), Johns Hopkins Medicine
5. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), Bupa