Prostate Biopsy

Biospy, Prostate

How To Prepare

Tell your doctor if you:

• Have had any bleeding problems.
• Are allergic to any medicines, including anesthetics.
• Take any medicines regularly. Be sure your doctor knows the names and doses of all your medicines.
• Are taking any blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

You will need to sign a consent form that says you understand the risks of a prostate biopsy and agree to have the biopsy done. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the biopsy, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of the biopsy, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?).

If a prostate biopsy is done under local anesthesia through the area between the anus and scrotum (perineum), no other special preparation is needed.

If the biopsy is done through the rectum, you may need to have an enema before the biopsy.

If the biopsy is done under general anesthesia, your doctor will tell you how soon before surgery to stop eating and drinking. In most cases, you will need to stop eating at least 6 hours before your surgery. You may be able to drink clear liquids, such as water, coffee, or tea, up to 2 hours before surgery. But be sure to follow the exact instructions your doctor gives you.

During preparation for the biopsy, an intravenous line (IV) is inserted in your arm, and a sedative medicine is given about an hour before the biopsy.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Bets Davis, MFA	Last Updated: February 25, 2009
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology
© 1995-2009 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.