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Biopsy under GA

User
Posted 12 Mar 2026 at 17:56

My other half was unable to have an MRI due to extreme claustrophobia and we are now scheduled for a biopsy under general anaesthetic.

does anyone have any experience of what to expect? Will he be in and out in a day? What are the odds of needing a catheter.

I just want to be as prepared as possible to support him.

User
Posted 12 Mar 2026 at 22:11

Im guessing it will be a transperineal biopsy. 

This can be done under a local but a general means he will need time to come round from the anaesthetic. 

The main after problem can be an infection, but he should be given anti biotics before hand to counter that risk.

There may be some discomfort or pain for a few days after the procedure, but nothing paracetamol won't deal with.

The most alarming thing is blood in his urine, which could last a couple of days, and blood in his semen which takes much longer to clear because it's not getting flushed out. Be prepared for his next few orgasms to be rusty brown with congealed blood. Its scary but perfectly normal. 

Be sure to ask how many cores or samples they are going to take. Because there is no MRI to guide them it could be a fair few from multiple areas within the prostate. I only had six taken which is the absolute minimum, I wish they had taken more to give a wider picture.

The biopsy really is no problem at all and he shouldn't worry about it. The wait for results is the hard part. But worrying won't change what the results will be. Just sap his energy for no good. 

It could be good news and sometimes thats just as hard to hear if you've got yourself all wound up to deal with having cancer.  His emotions will be all over the shop.

Be patient, try not to worry, until there is something to worry about, Mick 

 

 

User
Posted 12 Mar 2026 at 23:29

Hello, Worried Partner.

I'm sorry that your husband is having prostate problems, but I think it's great that you've found us and that you're doing your best to support him. Welcome to the forum

My second prostate biopsy was done under general anaesthetic. It was a doddle. I was in hospital about 6/7 hours. He will need someone to drive him home. My wife transported me, we stopped for a pub lunch on the way home. 🙂

Good luck. 👍

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 09:23
As Mick and Adrian have said it is very straightforward procedure. I had my second biopsy under GA in January this year and compared to the first under LA it was a breeze.

When I arrived I was asked to change into gown, disposable underwear, stockings and socks, went through consent with the doctor and was briefed by the anaesthetist. Half an hour later I walked to the theatre and had the canula fitted to back of my hand and painkiller and then anaesthetic administered, everyone was kind and kept me distracted while I went under. Next thing I knew I was in recovery with no pain at all. Wife had to come to pick me up after waiting to prove I could still pass urine which was fine. Was given three days of antibiotics. I didn't need any painkillers once home at all. Blood in urine was gone after about a week and in semen took a bit longer.

Wishing you and your partner an easy time and quick recovery.

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 13:16

Biopies used to be the first thing you had then they changed it to MRI first.

Your partner is following a well trod path of having a biopsy first, the biopsy being the only test that actually confirms you have it, if it finds it.  Although it's good to have a scan as it sees more, but can't be sure what it's seeing.

I've never heard of anyone needing a catheter although someone might pop up and say they did if they read this.

As you probably know many thousands of men in the UK have this procedure every year so they need to get on with it and not take up beds.

Good luck Peter

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User
Posted 12 Mar 2026 at 22:11

Im guessing it will be a transperineal biopsy. 

This can be done under a local but a general means he will need time to come round from the anaesthetic. 

The main after problem can be an infection, but he should be given anti biotics before hand to counter that risk.

There may be some discomfort or pain for a few days after the procedure, but nothing paracetamol won't deal with.

The most alarming thing is blood in his urine, which could last a couple of days, and blood in his semen which takes much longer to clear because it's not getting flushed out. Be prepared for his next few orgasms to be rusty brown with congealed blood. Its scary but perfectly normal. 

Be sure to ask how many cores or samples they are going to take. Because there is no MRI to guide them it could be a fair few from multiple areas within the prostate. I only had six taken which is the absolute minimum, I wish they had taken more to give a wider picture.

The biopsy really is no problem at all and he shouldn't worry about it. The wait for results is the hard part. But worrying won't change what the results will be. Just sap his energy for no good. 

It could be good news and sometimes thats just as hard to hear if you've got yourself all wound up to deal with having cancer.  His emotions will be all over the shop.

Be patient, try not to worry, until there is something to worry about, Mick 

 

 

User
Posted 12 Mar 2026 at 23:29

Hello, Worried Partner.

I'm sorry that your husband is having prostate problems, but I think it's great that you've found us and that you're doing your best to support him. Welcome to the forum

My second prostate biopsy was done under general anaesthetic. It was a doddle. I was in hospital about 6/7 hours. He will need someone to drive him home. My wife transported me, we stopped for a pub lunch on the way home. 🙂

Good luck. 👍

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 09:23
As Mick and Adrian have said it is very straightforward procedure. I had my second biopsy under GA in January this year and compared to the first under LA it was a breeze.

When I arrived I was asked to change into gown, disposable underwear, stockings and socks, went through consent with the doctor and was briefed by the anaesthetist. Half an hour later I walked to the theatre and had the canula fitted to back of my hand and painkiller and then anaesthetic administered, everyone was kind and kept me distracted while I went under. Next thing I knew I was in recovery with no pain at all. Wife had to come to pick me up after waiting to prove I could still pass urine which was fine. Was given three days of antibiotics. I didn't need any painkillers once home at all. Blood in urine was gone after about a week and in semen took a bit longer.

Wishing you and your partner an easy time and quick recovery.

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 13:16

Biopies used to be the first thing you had then they changed it to MRI first.

Your partner is following a well trod path of having a biopsy first, the biopsy being the only test that actually confirms you have it, if it finds it.  Although it's good to have a scan as it sees more, but can't be sure what it's seeing.

I've never heard of anyone needing a catheter although someone might pop up and say they did if they read this.

As you probably know many thousands of men in the UK have this procedure every year so they need to get on with it and not take up beds.

Good luck Peter

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 14:34

Thank you so much.  He’s a bit of an ostrich and doesn’t like to talk about it too much which I respect, but it’s helpful to have an idea of what to expect.

The nurse at his pre anaesthetic assessment wasn’t the best and put the fear of God in to him so just getting him through the door of the hospital is a challenge at this stage. He will get there though and I’m taking a book and the iPad to keep me busy as I’m not leaving the hospital whilst he’s in so I’m on hand for support if he needs.

 

User
Posted 13 Mar 2026 at 19:14

Hi 

Husband had a transperineal biopsy last year with a local anaesthetic and was fine. It took about 2 hours or so. He had to wait for a while till he'd passed urine, then he could go home. He was a bit tender for a day or so but that was it. 

Obviously if he has a general anaesthetic it will take much longer. I'm just wondering why he needs a general? 

User
Posted 25 Mar 2026 at 21:58

All went well with the biopsy- the heads up about the first ejaculation saved a lot of panic I can tell you!

How did most people get their results? Is it a letter/phone call or on the nhs app or do they call you back in?

User
Posted 25 Mar 2026 at 23:23

Hi,  That's one step for man as Neil Armstrong almost said.

It's a long time since my biopsy but I recall it well. I was ready for whatever came and at that time the biopsy was the first step after the psa test..

Two weeks after the biopsy I was out for a walk and the phone rang asking me if I could attend in an hour to get my result. I went with my wife and was met by a Macmillan Nurse and sat in a room where she said it was positive and gave me a quick insight to possibilities.

Things happened fast after that for MRI and bone scan,  but slowed for the results. Although I had good luck with the surgeon as he speeded things up.  It wouldn't surprise me if they just ring nowadays. It would be poor if it was done by letter or app. It's better to be prepared with knowledge of a few options from best to worst case. In my opinion. Good luck.

Edited by member 25 Mar 2026 at 23:24  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 26 Mar 2026 at 06:31
Hi

I had a biopsy in late 2024, Two weeks after the biopsy I received a call from a urology nurse and invited in to discuss my results face to face .Good luck with your results.

Swannie

User
Posted 26 Mar 2026 at 07:52

It seems there is a wide range of ways your results could be delivered.

From phone calls, to letters to radio silence where you have to do all the chasing. Only thing not mentioned is a carrier pigeon, which in my case would have been quicker.

Don't read anything into how long it takes or if they ask you to come in for a face to face. Its just the NHS being as chaotic as ever with different stems across the country.

When I received very poor service around my results I thought it was because they were negative. But my brother received even worse service from the same hospital and his was stage 4 advanced. 

I hope you get good news and that his journey is a short one for all the right reasons.

Take care of each other. Mick 

 
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