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Problems After a Laser Operation on the Prostate

If you need to have an operation on your enlarged prostate, you will have options like a traditional invasive surgery or a newly-developed laser operation. Every procedure offers its own advantages and potential problems to face during recovery, so it is important to fully discuss your choices with your doctor.

  1. The Facts

    • Laser surgery on the prostate is usually performed to reduce the size of an enlarged prostate. The different forms of laser operations use different lasers but they have the same goal: to destroy excess tissue and relieve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. These symptoms include frequent urges to urinate, reoccurring urinary tract infections and kidney damage. Potential problems you could experience after undergoing a laser operation on your prostate include issues with urination and sexual erectile dysfunction.

    Urinary Problems

    • You could experience urinary problems after undergoing a laser operation on your prostate. There is a chance that you will need a catheter for a week or more after your procedure. Having a catheter increases your risk of developing a urinary tract infection. Internal scarring near your urethra can cause it to grow narrower, which can restrict the flow of urine from your bladder or block it completely.

    Erectile and Fertility Issues

    • During a laser operation, there is a small chance that the laser could damage the nerves near your prostate. If this happens, you might experience difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. You could also develop retrograde ejaculation, which occurs when semen flows backwards into the bladder rather than out of penis during ejaculation. This condition is painless and will not harm you, but it can interfere with your ability to father children.

    Treatments

    • Treatments for urinary problems after a laser operation on your prostate are fairly direct. If you develop a urinary tract infection, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to clear it up. If your urethra has narrowed, simple in-office stretching treatments can fix the problem. Treatments for erectile dysfunction usually begin with prescription drugs that increase blood flow to the penis. If you develop retrograde ejaculation and wish to have children, assisted reproductive technology can retrieve semen from your bladder, which can be used to inseminate your partner.

    Considerations

    • Although problems after a laser operation on your prostate are possible, laser procedures do offer some advantages over more invasive options. You will face less chance of bleeding and will need a catheter for a shorter amount of time during recovery. Laser operations are less likely to cause erectile problems. However, there is a greater chance that you will need to undergo surgery again if you choose laser surgery.

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