TURP or finasteride????

Posted , 7 users are following.

I am 52 and have been diagnosed with BPH for an enlarged prostate. I have been advised of two possible options: TURP or finasteride. Unfortunately, my situation does not qualify for UROLIFT. I am very concerned about the side effects of both. I know TURP is the gold standard long term solution BUT I can't get over the retrogade ejaculation piece. Finaseride scares the heck out of me because of libido and other side effect issues. I welcome your thoughts.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Have you discussed the RE situation with your urologist/surgeon? Is UROLIFT not an option because your prostate is too long/big? That was the case for me when I considered UROLIFT at age 57. I went with a TURP instead, telling my doctor/surgeon that sexual performance was on par in importance with urination. My TURPs were 1.5 years ago and the doctor was able to maintain normal ejaculation. Recently, he admitted that he just "got lucky" in that he didn't cut the key bits that would allow normal ejaculation.

    TURP has to include a handshake agreement with the surgeon. It's too easy to just cut everything up in the name of urination.

  • Edited

    Do you try alpha-blocker yet? Do not go with a surgery unless you're running out of options.

    Finasteride takes a few months to work.

  • Edited

    Do some research on Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) My prostate was over 100cc and I had all the BPH symptoms. Went for the PAE procedure 14 months ago and couldn't be happier. Shrunk my prostate by 50% and got rid of all my BPH symptoms. The procedure was painless, and absolutely no sexual or incontinence side effects since they don't go through the urethra. Several people here have had great outcomes with PAE. It's another choice in dealing with BPH that Urologists don't talk about because they don't perform the procedure. It's done by an interventional radiologist.

  • Posted

    Nazario,

    You haven't given much information about your prostate. What is the size, and do you have an enlarged median lobe pushing into the bladder? If you can hold off, look into more options. You are young so I would look into minimally invasive solutions, that maintain sex function, like PAE (Prostate Artery Embolization), Rezum, Urolift, FLA( Focal Laser Ablation), and maybe Aquablation. You should see some other urologists for second opinions. Often a doctor will only recommend the one procedure they do, and not others. Before having any surgery you should have the necessary tests done, one of the most important is a cystoscopy.

    One way to buy more time to look into these procedures is using intermittent catheterization. Many on this web site, including myself, have been doing it for years. Some do it as a permanent solution.

  • Posted

    Based on a CT scan in 2015 my prostate was ~125 cc. Started taking finasteride for it. It took about 6 months but I pee good now. I don't have any of the usual side affects associated with finasteride. Still taking it wait for that illusive one size fits all silver bullet cure for BPH. If I had to do something today it would be HOLEP.

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