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Prostate Biopsy
A prostate biopsy is a very quick, simple procedure that is generally performed at our downtown office location. Occasionally, it will be performed at River Road Surgery Center in Bethesda. An escort is unnecessary to take you to or from the procedure.
Aspirin, or other blood thinning products, should be avoided for at least two weeks before the procedure.
One day prior:
Take the antibiotics that your doctor prescribed the day before the biopsy, the morning of the biopsy, and the day after the biopsy. Also, you will use a Fleet's enema at home prior to coming in for the biopsy.
A transrectal ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum, and the prostate is numbed under direct vision through this probe. After this, the ultrasound is used to measure and take pictures of the prostate. Finally, your doctor will take between 12 and 24 small pieces of the prostate. This step is generally painless. The entire procedure will take less than five minutes. You will then generally go home for the rest of the day.
After the procedure:
It is very usual, and perhaps even expected, to see blood in the urine, stool or semen (or a combination of the three) to some degree. This can occur in a very unpredictable pattern, for a very variable period of time. As long as the bleeding is not making it difficult to urinate or defecate, it is not cause for concern. This particularly holds true for blood in the semen, which occasionally remains for months and is hardly ever cause for concern.
If you have a fever greater than 100.5 degrees or very painful urination, alert our office immediately so our staff can set up an appointment to have your urine examined for infection.
Finally, as a general policy of our office, please make an appointment in our office so that we may review the pathology report with you in person. We do not discuss these results over the phone.