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By Mayo Clinic staffGenerally, doctors retrieve prostate biopsy samples through the wall of the rectum. This is called a transrectal prostate biopsy. Less often, the prostate is accessed through the tip of the penis (urethra), or through the space between the anus and scrotum (perineum).
For a transrectal prostate biopsy, your doctor will start by having you lie on your side, with your knees pulled up to your chest.
After cleaning the biopsy area and applying numbing gel, your doctor will gently insert a thin ultrasound probe into your rectum. Transrectal ultrasonography is used to create images of your prostate using sound waves. Your doctor will use the images to identify the area that needs to be numbed with an anesthetic injection, if one is used. It's also used to guide the spring-loaded prostate biopsy device into place.
Once the biopsy device is situated, your doctor will retrieve thin, cylindrical sections of tissue with a hollow, spring-propelled needle. The procedure typically causes a very brief, uncomfortable sensation each time the spring-loaded needle takes a sample. Your doctor may target a suspicious area to biopsy, or may take samples from several places in your prostate. In most cases, doctors will take 10 to 12 tissue samples. The entire procedure usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
After the procedure
After a prostate biopsy, you'll probably need to continue taking an antibiotic for a few days. You may feel slight soreness and have some light bleeding from your rectum. You may have blood in your urine or stools for a few days. You may also notice that your semen has a pinkish tint caused by a small amount of blood in your semen. This can last for more than a month.
Call your doctor if you have:
- Prolonged or heavy bleeding
- Pain that gets worse
- Swelling near the biopsy area
- Difficulty urinating
In rare cases, a prostate biopsy can lead to infection. If you have any signs of infection, call your doctor. Signs and symptoms of infection include:
- Fever
- Pain when urinating
- Discharge from your penis
