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Complications of surgery to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia

Several complications could develop from surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Which complication occurs depends on the type of surgery you have. Complications include:

  • Erection problems. Ask your doctor how many of his or her patients had this problem after surgery.
  • Retrograde ejaculation, in which semen flows backward into the bladder instead of out of the penis. While not harmful, this may make it more difficult to father children.
  • Urinary incontinence. Most men who develop this problem have only occasional dribbling.
  • A risk of complications related to the anesthesia and surgery and a small risk of death (less than 1 in 1,000).
  • Damage to the penis or urethra.
Author Monica Rhodes
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD
- Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS
- Urology/Oncology
Last Updated March 24, 2008

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: March 24, 2008
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