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Side Effects of BPH Surgery

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)---also known as an enlarged prostate---can cause a number of symptoms. More serious symptoms like inability to pass urine, kidney damage and frequent urinary tract infections among others, usually require surgical intervention. Several different surgeries address BPH and side effects will vary depending on the type of procedure and other factors.

  1. Considerations

    • Prostate surgeries carry the risk of many undesirable side effects. While men with severe symptoms often find significant relief, those with mild symptoms might not notice much of a difference. The latter in particular should weigh the benefits against the possible complications to determine if surgery is the best way to go, according to WebMD.

    Erectile Dysfunction

    • Post-surgery, you might have problems with sexual function. This typically resolves within a year, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC).

    Retrograde Ejaculation

    • The most common surgery for BPH---transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)---might cause retrograde ejaculation. This condition is marked by ejaculate moving up into the bladder instead of through the penis during sexual climax.

    Leakage

    • Prostate surgeries can cause urinary incontinence---the inability to hold urine.

    Treatment

    • Many complications of prostate surgery have treatments. For example, medications can address retrograde ejaculation, sexual dysfunction and bladder control problems.

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