Prostate biopsy Whakamātaunga kiko o te repe tātea

A prostate biopsy involves taking tiny samples of tissue from your prostate gland. The tissue samples are then examined under a microscope to look for cancer cells. A prostate biopsy is usually safe and has minimal side effects.

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When you would have a prostate biopsy

Your healthcare provider may organise a prostate biopsy to check for or rule out prostate cancer if:

  • you have a raised level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) found in a blood test
  • they feel something abnormal when examining your prostate gland.

Prostate cancer

Having a prostate biopsy

When you arrive at your appointment, you will be given an injection of an antibiotic into your thigh muscle. The antibiotic will reduce your risk of getting an infection after the procedure.

The specialist will give you a local anaesthetic (a numbing medicine) to make the procedure more comfortable. Most people only experience mild discomfort. The procedure takes 5 to 10 minutes.

During the procedure, the specialist will ask you to lie on your side with your knees pulled to your chest. They will insert an ultrasound probe, about the size of a finger, into your bottom (rectum). A screen will display images from the ultrasound probe.

The specialist will use the images as a guide to insert a needle through the probe into your prostate gland. They will use the needle to take tissue samples.

After your prostate biopsy

You should drink plenty of fluids. You may notice blood in your wee (urine) or when you do a poo (have a bowel motion) for up to a week after the biopsy. Drinking more fluids should help this go away. You can also have blood in your semen for up to 6 weeks after the biopsy.

You can go back to doing your usual activities the following day.

You should contact your healthcare provider if:

  • you have a fever
  • you have difficulty weeing or do not wee
  • you have heavy bleeding with clots
  • your pain gets worse.

If you have signs of infection after your biopsy

Seek urgent medical advice if you have a high fever and feel very unwell, as this might mean you have a serious infection.

Results of your prostate biopsy

It may take about 2 weeks to get the results of your biopsy. They will show if you have prostate cancer or not.

The specialist will either contact you with your results or book an appointment to see you to tell you your results. The results will also be sent to your healthcare provider.

A negative result for prostate cancer

If the biopsy shows you do not have prostate cancer, you will not need any further appointments.

Talk to your usual healthcare provider about ongoing prostate checks.

A positive result for prostate cancer

If you have a positive result for cancer, you will be given an appointment to see a specialist doctor (a urologist). The urologist will go through your results and explain the treatment options.

The Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry – Australia and New Zealand will also contact you. The registry collects data about the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life of men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The aim of the registry is to improve the care and outcomes of men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Risks of a prostate biopsy

There is a slight risk of developing an infection from a prostate biopsy, and in rare cases this can be severe.

You can have some bleeding after the procedure, but this is usually mild and goes away by itself. In very rare cases, life-threatening bleeding can occur.

Informed consent

Healthcare services may be provided to you only if you make an informed choice and give informed consent to it. This forms part of your rights (Rights 5, 6 and 7) under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights (the Code).

The Code and Your Rights/Ōu Mōtika — Health & Disability Commissioner

The 3 rights that together allow for informed consent are:

  • Right 5 — the right to effective communication
  • Right 6 — the right to be informed
  • Right 7 — the right to choice and consent.

This means you must be told about the service being suggested, including any risks or possible complications. You must have the chance to ask as many questions as you need to understand the information you are given.

You also have the right to have someone with you to help you. But the decision to say 'yes' or 'no' must be yours (unless you are unable to make that decision due to illness or other impairment, or sometimes in an emergency).

You also have the right to be given the information in a language you fully understand. You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.