Life after treatment

The first week

Many men go home with a catheter after a procedure. It usually comes out within a few days. Some stinging or pink urine is expected in this window.

Drink enough water to keep urine pale. Gentle walks are better than bed rest.

Avoid long drives and heavy lifting for the first fortnight. Your team sets the exact limits.

Changes in your stream

The stream is usually stronger within the first few weeks. Emptying feels more complete. The urge to rush can fade.

Some days feel worse than others. Small ups and downs are part of healing, not a sign that something is wrong.

Keep your IPSS diary for the first eight weeks. It is more reliable than memory.

Ejaculation after treatment

Retrograde ejaculation is common after enucleation and TURP. Semen goes backward into the bladder instead of out.

It is not considered physically harmful, and it typically passes with the next urination. For couples hoping to conceive, this matters and should be discussed beforehand.

Sensation is usually unchanged. Discuss it ahead, so it is not a surprise afterwards.

Continence and leaks

A small minority of men notice temporary stress leaks after surgery. Coughing, lifting, or laughing may catch you out.

Large real-world data on BPH surgery show that post-surgical incontinence sits around seven percent at one month, easing to about four percent by eighteen months[¹]. Numbers differ by technique and by centre.

Pelvic floor exercises, started early, shorten recovery. Your clinician can refer you to a physiotherapist if leaks persist.

Sexual function

Libido does not usually change after BPH surgery. Erections, for many men, are the same or a touch improved once pain and catheters are gone.

New erectile problems can happen in a small number of men. If they do, a pill or a short course can help.

Tell your clinician if anything has shifted. A five-minute conversation often clears it up.

PSA and follow-up

PSA drops after any operation that removes or destroys tissue. The new baseline is the number to track, not the old one.

Your follow-up visits usually fall at six weeks, three months, and one year. Bring your IPSS and any notes.

A rising PSA after surgery is investigated in the same way as a PSA rise without surgery.

When to call

Call for heavy bleeding with clots, a fever, or the inability to pass urine. Any of these need same-day review.

A stinging feeling that is worsening, rather than easing, also needs a check. Infections are easier to treat early than late.

Many surprises in the first eight weeks are minor. Calling to ask is always fine.