Prostate procedures may be performed to treat prostate symptoms, or diagnose or treat prostate conditions, such as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer.

If symptoms of prostate problems are present— such as urinary difficulty or pain—or blood tests show an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the urologist will want to do a further assessment. This may include a prostate and rectal ultrasound to examine the size, location and shape of the prostate gland. He or she may also order a prostate biopsy to check for cancer or abnormal cells.

If cancer or BPH are found, there are several options for treatment. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) can help relieve symptoms by removing parts of the prostate gland. If the doctor recommends a prostatectomy, the prostate gland will be partially or completely removed. There are several possible approaches to the surgery: how it is performed (open surgery, laparoscopic prostatectomy or robotic prostatectomy) and how the prostate gland is accessed during surgery (retropubic prostatectomy vs. a perineal prostatectomy).