What is Prostate Surgery

The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system. Its main role is to produce semen, the fluid that carries and protects sperm. It is about the size of a walnut and sits just below the bladder in men. The prostate is surrounded by the upper part of the urethra, the thin tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis. It also carries semen from the prostate and sperm from the testicles to penis during ejaculation.

A prostatectomy is a surgical procedure in which a urologist removes your prostate to treat prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia. The two main types include a simple prostatectomy and a radical prostatectomy. Risks include incontinence, erectile dysfunction and surgical risks.

Types of Prostate Surgery

• Radical Prostatectomy A radical prostatectomy is surgery to remove the prostate gland and seminal vesicles (and sometimes nearby lymph nodes) after a prostate cancer diagnosis. It is one treatment option for patients with localized prostate cancer.
• Channel TURP A transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure that involves cutting away a section of the prostate.
• Bilateral Orchidectomy An orchiectomy (or orchidectomy) is a surgical procedure to remove one or both testicles. Testicles are two small organs that hang in a sac of skin (the scrotum) below the penis. Testicles (or testes) make sperm and male hormones, including testosterone.