Alternatives to TURP when drugs stop working that won't cause retrograde ejaculation.

by Charlie
(Dayton, OH USA)

I am a urology patient with BPH prostate 85cc, having been on Proscar and Flomax for years, I have been told that I need a TURP. The side effects I most dislike are (1) failure of urine control – know this is unlikely, and (2) retrograde ejaculation – know this is 99% likely. QUESTION: Are there any alternatives that are unlikely to cause these two side effects while freeing my urine stream?

MEDICAL HISTORY: Have been using Proscar (15 years) and Flomax / Tamsulosin (3 years). Without Flomax, I have great difficulty voiding. These two drugs already decrease the amount of my ejaculate and sometimes cause retrograde ejaculation, which I don’t like. I can achieve more normal forward ejaculation by timing sex to when the Flomax is wearing off, but still the amount is low, probably due to the long-term effects of Proscar. I would like to get rid of both, but the TURP would be worse.
My Urologist found a nodule this year on my prostate; the biopsy with 12 stabs in that area found no cancer (2 weeks ago). Scope shows that some of my prostate tissue is growing into the bladder. We have discussed a standard TURP and a Laser TURP with my urologist. I've read Wikipedia, WebMD and other on-line discussions/papers, but none really discuss how to treat my BPH while avoiding retrograde ejaculation and the risk of losing sphincter control.

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

Thanks for getting in touch. Unfortunately I am unaware of any BPH treatment option that would not increase risk of retrograde ejaculation. TURP is the standard management in this situation if drugs fail or if you are intolerant to medical therapy. Your urologist would be the best person to ask about this, but presumably you have already explored this with them. I wish you well in your future benign prostatic hypertrophy treatment.




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