Can Prostate Biopsy Cause Erectile Dysfunction
If are recommended by your doctor to undergo prostate biopsy procedure for the detection of cancer, you must have a lot of questions and reservations. One of the most common question that people usually have is, can prostate biopsy cause erectile dysfunction or alter the quality of sex life at all?
The answer is yes; erectile dysfunction may occur after prostate biopsy in some susceptible individuals; but it is usually transient and self-limiting.
Accorded to a study published in the Journal of Urology, men who undergo prostate biopsy are at risk of temporary erectile dysfunction due to anxiety or pain; however, in most men, symptoms improve within a couple of weeks.
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Why You Should Not Have A Prostate Biopsy
Prostate biopsy risks There are risks associated with prostate biopsies, but physicians can take steps to reduce those risks. Risks and ways to manage them include: Infection: The most serious risk of a prostate biopsy is the risk of infection, including urinary tract infections and, less commonly, sepsis.
What Happens In A Prostate Biopsy
You will need to lie down on your side. Then you will be asked to bring your knees up to your chest. Next, the doctor will apply gel and gently insert a thin probe into your rectum.
Transrectal ultrasonography uses sound waves to take pictures of your prostate. Your doctor will use these pictures to know where they need to give you an injection, which will make it less painful when they take the tissue sample. They also use images to guide the needle into place.
Once the area is numbed, there will be a device. There are lots of needles on it. The doctor will put them in your skin. It can make you feel uncomfortable for a second, but it is over quickly.
Your doctor might take a sample from your prostate to see what it is. Then, they will use an instrument called a biopsy gun to take the samples. It should only take about 20 minutes.
After a prostate biopsy, your doctor will tell you only to do light activities for 24 to 48 hours. After that, your doctor might recommend taking antibiotics for a few days.
- Fever
- Worsening pain
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What Kind Of Anesthesia Is Used For Prostate Biopsy
The procedure may be done;under;a local or;general anesthetic. . Local anesthesia Just the area that is being operated on is numbed, given as an injection and may also be given with a sedative.;General anesthetic;means medicines are;used;to put you into a deep sleep during the procedure.) ;General anesthesia Blocks;pain;and keeps you asleep through the surgery.
Set To Experience Biopsy
The little reproductive organs behind the prostate will be assessed and the area amongst it and the prostate will be infused one on every side with anesthesia, to numb it. The biopsy will be performed then, by taking specimens of your prostate tissues and putting these examples under the magnifying instrument to search for tumor cells.
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What Happens After A Prostate Biopsy
Your recovery process will vary depending on the type of anesthesia that isused. If you were given general anesthesia, you will be taken to a recoveryroom for observation. Once your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing arestable and you are alert, you will be taken to your hospital room ordischarged to your home.
If local anesthetic was used, you may go back to your normal activities anddiet unless otherwise instructed. You may feel the urge to urinate or havea bowel movement after the biopsy. This feeling should pass after a fewhours.
There may be blood in your urine or stool for a few days after the biopsy.This is common. Blood, either red or reddish brown, may also be in yourejaculate for a few weeks after the biopsy. This, too, is normal.
The biopsy site may be tender or sore for several days after the biopsy.Take a pain reliever for soreness as recommended by your healthcareprovider. Aspirin or certain other pain medicines may increase the chanceof bleeding, so be sure to take only recommended medicines.
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Increase in the amount of blood in your urine or stool
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Belly or pelvic pain
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Trouble urinating
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Changes in the way your urine looks or smells or burning with urination
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Fever and/or chills
Your healthcare provider may give you other instruction, depending on yoursituation.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Prostate Biopsy
A patient may take about four to six weeks or even more recover after a prostate biopsy. The recovery process after biopsy usually depends on the patient’s health and age. Doctors may recommend only light activities for 24-48 hours after a prostate biopsy. The doctor prescribes painkillers, vitamins, and antibiotics for a few days to speed up the healing process.
After the biopsy, it is normal to experience the following sensations or symptoms:
- Burning urination: It may start within 24 hours after the biopsy and may continue until three to seven days. This burning sensation is a side effect of the procedure and usually considered normal.;
- Frequent urination: It may gradually improve over the first 24-36 hours.
- Blood in the urine: It is considered normal to have slightly red-tinged urine or urine that resembles the color of a rose or red wine. This may last from 12 hours to 3 weeks after the biopsy.
- Blood in stool: A patient may notice red stains on the toilet tissue or see some bloody streaks in the stool. This may last for up to five days.
- Blood in the semen: This may persist for up to six weeks after the biopsy.
- Tiredness: A patient may feel tired for a month or two. It usually takes 30-45 days to regain full normal strength after the procedure; hence, sufficient rest is usually advised by the doctor.;
Post-biopsy restrictions and instructions:
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What Abnormal Results Mean
A positive biopsy result means that cancer cells have been found. The lab will give the cells a grade called a Gleason score. This helps predict how fast the cancer will grow. Your doctor will talk to you about your treatment options.
The biopsy may also show cells that look abnormal, but may or may not be cancer. Your provider will talk with you about what steps to take. You may need another biopsy.
Why I Wouldn’t Have A Needle Biopsy Again
I let them do all these tests because I had passed such a big volume of blood clots and my doctor was worried. I knew I didn’t have cancer. However, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, because I had not yet discovered the triggers that were causing my prostate to block and shut down my urination. I was at the end of my rope and, at that time in my life, I didnt know what you are now learning!;
I had the prostate biopsy procedure done because the CT scan showed how massive my prostate was. My very friendly and competent urologist said I had a prostate “the size of Texas”!;
The biopsy results showed that I didn’t have cancer. This was lucky because it reduced the chances of serious complications such as the spread of a cancer from the needle biopsy.;
Knowing now what I do, I would never have allowed my urologist to do a biopsy!
So what should you do?;
My view is simple. Improve your health and specifically your prostate health by making changes to your diet, lifestyle and more.;
If some mainstream doctors now say to avoid a prostate biopsy procedure, and it is often better to do nothing if you suspect prostate cancer because of the risks of spreading the cancer by testing or surgeries, then I submit you should do all you can to improve your health. As a by-product you will improve the health of your prostate.;
We will discuss this in great detail later on or you can read all about it now in my book…
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Genetic Testing For Some Men With Prostate Cancer
Some doctors now recommend that some men with prostate cancer be tested to look for certain inherited gene changes. This includes men in whom a family cancer syndrome is suspected, as well as men with prostate cancer that has certain high-risk features or that has spread to other parts of the body. Talk to your doctor about the possible pros, cons, and limitations of such testing.;
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Full Arch With Four Implants
This procedure, often called an all-on-4 implant is a unique implant solution that allows patients who are missing all of their upper or lower teeth to replace a full arch of teeth using only 4 implants as anchors.
This technique offers many advantages over traditional dentures.
Easy to care for, this solution can simulate the look and feel of natural teeth and stay fixed in place with the implants acting as anchors. Patients will not experience the typical rocking and movement or gum irritation associated with dentures. Patients can often leave the same day with a full arch of teeth, reducing both overall cost and healing time for the patient.
Dental implant placement can help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant. This process is called osseointegration and can also help prevent future bone loss.
With this implant supported full arch, there is no plate covering the roof of the mouth, so speaking and eating are more natural and comfortable than with a traditional denture.
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Guided Dental Implant Placement
Using CBCT scans and restorative virtual treatment planning, along with specialized training, we are able to provide guided implant placement for our patients.
Using a virtual 3-D model or a physical model, implant placements and the following restorative work can be simulated to create the ideal patient treatment plan. These virtual plans allow the doctor to take multiple aspects of implant placement and restoration into consideration, resulting in optimal aesthetics, function and longevity for the patients final restoration. Working with a 3-D model also allows the patient to better understand the procedures and visualize the end result.
Once planning is complete, specialized software can be used to create a surgical guide for use during implant placement. This guide directs the exact location, angle and depth of the implant placement. The use of the guide increases the accuracy, efficiency, safety and predictability of the procedure.
Getting The Results Of The Biopsy
Your biopsy samples will be sent to a lab, where they will be looked at with a microscope to see if they contain cancer cells. Getting the results usually takes at least 1 to 3 days, but it can sometimes take longer. The results might be reported as:
- Positive for cancer: Cancer cells were seen in the biopsy samples.
- Negative for cancer: No cancer cells were seen in the biopsy samples.
- Suspicious: Something abnormal was seen, but it might not be cancer.
If the biopsy is negative
If the prostate biopsy results are negative , and the chance that you have prostate cancer isnt very high based on your PSA level and other tests, you might not need any more tests, other than repeat PSA tests sometime later.
But even if many samples are taken, biopsies can still sometimes miss a cancer if none of the biopsy needles pass through it. This is known as a false-negative result. If your doctor still strongly suspects you have prostate cancer , your doctor might suggest:
- Getting other lab tests to help get a better idea of whether or not you might have prostate cancer. Examples of such tests include the Prostate Health Index , 4Kscore test, PCA3 tests , and ConfirmMDx. These tests are discussed in Whats New in Prostate Cancer Research?
- Getting a repeat prostate biopsy. This might include getting additional samples of parts of the prostate not biopsied the first time, or using imaging tests such as MRI to look more closely for abnormal areas to target.
Prostate cancer grade
Gleason score
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When Is Prostate Biopsy Needed
The urologist recommends prostate biopsy when the previous test results of digital rectal exam or prostate specific antigen blood test are abnormal or indicative of prostate cancer. Youre likely to be recommended the test under following circumstances:
- If your serum prostate specific antigen levels are significantly higher than the normal range for your respective age.
- If your doctor came across any lump or other related abnormalities while performing a digital rectal exam.
- If your previous biopsy was normal however your prostate surface antigen levels are still high.
- If your previous biopsy test result confirmed the cells to be abnormal but not cancerous.
As part of the biopsy, the samples obtained from the procedure are examined carefully under the microscope to look for abnormal cells that are suggestive of prostate cancer. If the samples do exhibit abnormalities in the morphology, configuration and other characteristics, then further evaluation is performed to ascertain cancer prognosis . Then the best treatment options are considered according to the patients condition.
The Digital Rectal Exam
The prostate gland comprises three zones. Most cancers originate in the peripheral zone. Proctologists, urologists, and oncologists are trained to feel this area while performing a digital rectal exam .
Here, digital doesnt refer to technology. Instead, it refers to the fingers . In a DRE, your doctor inserts a well-lubricated gloved finger gently into the rectum to reach the prostate. Prostate enlargement and suspicious lesions may be felt during a DRE.
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Dental Implant Support Bridge
An implant supported bridge is a restorative solution for spaces where three or more adjacent teeth are missing. The;bridge replaces multiple adjacent missing teeth without the use of a denture. This restoration typically requires two implants to support the porcelain bridge. The bridge provides a functional and aesthetic replacement for the patient’s natural teeth.
How Do You Prepare For A Prostate Biopsy
Your doctor will get you tested for urinary tract infections . If UTI is detected, the biopsy will be postponed till the infection clears with antibiotics.
You need to stop taking blood-thinning medications such as aspirin and warfarin and any other medications as advised by your doctor several days before the surgery.
Your doctor or nurse may instruct you to take an enema before the procedure. This helps to keep the bowels clean during the surgery.
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What Are The Different Types Of A Prostate Biopsy Procedure
The surgeon can choose any of the three different ways of performing a prostate biopsy. These are as follows:
- Transrectal method: This is the most common method of performing a prostate biopsy. In this, the surgical instruments are inserted through the rectum .
- Perineal method: This is done through the area lying between the scrotum and rectum.
- Transurethral method: A cystoscope is inserted through the urethra .
How It Is Done
A prostate biopsy is done by a doctor who specializes in men’s genital and urinary problems . It can be done in the doctor’s office, a day surgery clinic, or a hospital operating room.
Some men have an MRI of the prostate before their biopsy. This helps to find the areas in the prostate to take biopsy samples. If you have an MRI, your doctor will use ultrasound and the MRI results to find the areas to biopsy.
Before your biopsy, you may be given antibiotics to prevent infection. You may be asked to take off all of your clothes and put on a hospital gown.
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Benefits Of Getting A Prostate Biopsy
A prostate biopsy is the only way to definitively determine whether you have prostate cancer and, if you do, how aggressive it is.
While prostate biopsies arent always conclusive, in general, a biopsy gives men the reassurance of knowing whether they have cancer or not. If you know you have prostate cancer, youre more likely to be appropriately treated.
Appropriate prostate cancer treatment options depend on several factors, including the stage of the cancer, your age, your general health and which risk category your cancer falls into.
Localized prostate cancer is categorized into six risk categories, which range from very low-risk to very high-risk. The risk group is determined by the stage of your cancer, your PSA levels and the Gleason score obtained from the biopsy pathology report.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines outline appropriate treatment options based on risk categories and whether the cancer has already metastasized.
Patients whose cancer is confined to the prostate and falls into the very low-risk and low-risk categories tend to have slow-growing cancers. Treatment options for these patients often include active surveillance, radiation therapy or surgery. Similar treatment options may be recommended to patients in the low-risk and favorable intermediate prostate cancer risk categories.
The NCCN guidelines recommend immediate treatment for patients with high-risk disease or those patients whose cancer has metastasized.
Why And How Prostate Biopsy Is Done
It is important to know how the prostate biopsy is done, especially if you are a man over 50 who has an elevated risk for prostate cancer.
Your doctor may recommend a prostate biopsy if they suspect that you have cancerous cells in your prostatic tissue.
If left untreated, these cells can lead to problems with bladder control and sexual function.
Prostate biopsies are typically performed outpatient under sedation or general anesthesia with the patient awake throughout the procedure.
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