The laser fiber is then entered into the prostate in order to relieve obstruction of the prostate gland. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis with topical anesthesia. Patients are able to return home after treatment but require a catheter for about one week. Patients may experience a frequent or urgent need to urinate immediately following the treatment, which may require the use of a catheter during the recovery period. TUMT has not been shown to have a negative impact on sexual function.
Risks associated with treatment of noncancerous prostate enlargement depend on the technique used.
TURP is appropriate treatment for men with severe urinary symptoms and for those who are unable to empty their bladders. The TUIP procedure, which is appropriate for men with less severe prostate enlargement, carries no risk of impotence, incontinence or retrograde ejaculation. With laser therapy, these risks also are minimal, although it may take longer to regain urinary flow after laser treatment. Prostate cancer specialists recommend the appropriate treatment for an individual based on the type of prostate cancer, the degree to which the cancer has spread, the patient's age, his general state of health and any prior prostate cancer treatment he may have had. Surgical treatment for prostate cancer involves removing the entire prostate, a procedure called radical prostatectomy.