Prostate Biopsy- How does it feel?

This is quite a subjective topic. Some people (most people) only feel a slight sting, while others accuse very bad consequences (such as prostatitis) following prostate biopsy. Just like someone may cry when gets stinged by a needle, while others will look at the the sting and feel ok.

But one thing is certain: when the needle is inserted, you will feel a sharp pain in the prostate. Calm down, take a deep breath, for this is to be repeated more times, depending on the preliminary conclusions of your doctor. And remember: this may save your life.

A new study presented at the annual meeting of the North Central Section of the American Urological Association in San Diego showed that nearly 16% pf the patients suffer a moderate or higher level of pain during their biopsy.

In order to help men who have anxiety caused by fear of prostate biopsy, a new study was conducted at the Mayo Clinic and has found that injecting an anesthetic at some points can decrease pain during prostate biopsy. 243 men were involved in this study, and they were given an anesthetic to reduce pain at one of three locations. As a consequence, the experienced pain was minimum in those men who received the anesthetic injection at the prostate apex, the part of the prostate closest to the urethra, and surrounding rectal tissues.

Richard Ashley, Mayo Clinic urology resident and lead study investigator, stated the following:

"Prostate biopsy evokes significant anxiety for some men due to anticipated pain associated with the procedure,"

"Patients should request that anesthetic be used at the time of a biopsy, and pain control should be the standard of care in a urologist's office," he said.

Related prostate health articles:

• The Prostate Biopsy: The prostate biopsy is an important part of the diagnosis because an accurate and early estimation of tumor grade significantly helps prostate cancer patients in their management of prostate disorders.
• Prostate Biopsy- How is it done? Procedure…: There is an ongoing refinment of the prostate biopsy process, adapting it to prostates of different sizes and shapes.
• Prostate Biopsy Evaluation & Results: Tissues are graded according to their ability to retain their normal appearance. The more disrupted the normal glandular architecture, the higher the grade of tumor and the poorer the prognosis…
• Prostate Biopsy Risks & Side-effects- Are there any?: Sometimes people ask about prostate biopsy side effects, or about prostate biopsy risks . The greatest risk is not getting accurate prostate samples, that is not making correct conclusions as a result of the biopsy.
• Prostate Biopsy- Is it a Perfect Procedure?: The tumor is a compact mass of cells and that is what is normally felt during a DRE. Some cancers are already in an advanced stage, and only few prostate biopsy samples are needed.

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