Open Prostatectomy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

The risks of open prostatectomy include:

• The possible need for a Reference blood transfusion Opens New Window. Slightly more men require a blood transfusion after open prostatectomy than after TURP.
• An inability to have sexual intercourse because of erection problems. This occurs in less than 5 out of 100 men and is more frequent in older men than in younger men.^{Reference 2}
• A strong urge to urinate (overactive bladder), which can also cause leaking of urine (urge incontinence). This usually gets better within weeks or months.
• Complete or partial inability to hold back urine (incontinence).
• Ejaculation of semen into the bladder instead of out through the penis (retrograde ejaculation). This happens in 80 to 90 out of 100 men who have open prostatectomy. Although this is not harmful, it may cause fertility problems.

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