Is a transrectal biopsy minimally invasive?
Yes and no.
Doctors say it’s minimally invasive.
No bulky incisions, no general anesthesia — In and out in a day. Home to rest.
Don’t be fooled by the jargon, though.
When it is your body, there is nothing minimal about it — The needle is inserted through your ass to access the prostate.
The doctor removes ten to twelve samples. Sometimes more.
Men never forget it happened.
There is discomfort, true pain sometimes, blood in urine, blood in stool — Blood in semen, weeks at a time sometimes. There is also infection, it’s possible – Severe infection.
Bacteria are found in the rectum, the bacteria can enter the blood — Safer than surgery? Yes.
Truly minimal? Ask the men who have had it. They have newer methods these days: Transperineal approach – MRI guidance.
They’re finetuning it – The old way works but at a cost.
