Urology

TURP in Nigeria

The inner part of an enlarged prostate is removed through the urethra, so urine can flow again. There is no external cut. It is the standard operation for benign enlargement that tablets no longer control.

Also called: Transurethral resection of the prostate, Prostate reaming, BPH surgery

Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed 3 October 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.

Published price

₦680,000

Fixed all-in case rate, TURP

Two to three nights, catheter included.

What the price covers

  • Surgeon and assistant fees
  • Anaesthetist and theatre time
  • Standard consumables for the operation
  • Your bed for the expected stay
  • Routine medication while you are admitted
  • The post-operative review at six weeks

What it does not cover

  • The first consultation and the tests that confirm you need the operation
  • Treating conditions found during work-up, such as uncontrolled diabetes or an untreated infection
  • Take-home medication after discharge
  • Care for complications needing intensive care or a return to theatre

Related prices

Open prostatectomy, for a very large gland

₦950,000

Prostate biopsy

Only where the PSA or the examination raises a question about cancer.

₦180,000

What would change this price

  • A gland large enough to need an open operation, priced separately above
  • Bladder stones removed at the same time
  • A longer catheter period or readmission for retention
  • Blood transfusion, uncommon but more likely with a very large gland

If an HMO is paying, the case needs prior authorisation before admission. Bring your HMO number to the first consultation and the desk will start it. If the plan declines, you are told the cash price before anything is booked.

Get a written quoteSee the surgeons

Who this is for

  • A poor stream, straining, or stopping and starting
  • Getting up repeatedly at night to pass urine
  • Complete inability to pass urine, needing a catheter
  • Repeated urine infections or bladder stones caused by incomplete emptying
  • Kidney function affected by back pressure, which makes surgery urgent

When it is not the right answer

  • Mild symptoms that tablets are controlling well
  • Anyone who has not yet had a PSA and an examination, because the plan differs if cancer is present
  • A man whose symptoms are from the bladder rather than the prostate, which needs testing first

The pathway, step by step

  1. 1

    Consultation, flow test and scan₦35,000

    Symptom score, flow measurement, and an ultrasound of the prostate and bladder in one visit.

  2. 2

    PSA, explained properly

    What a raised PSA does and does not mean, and what the next test would be, before anyone discusses treatment.

  3. 3

    Tablets first, where reasonable

    Many men do well on medication for years. Surgery is offered when it is the right answer, not as the first one.

  4. 4

    The operation

    About an hour under spinal anaesthetic. Nothing is cut on the outside.

  5. 5

    Two to three nights with a catheter

    The catheter is removed before you go home in most cases, once the urine runs clear.

  6. 6

    Review at six weeks₦25,000

    Flow rechecked and the histology from the resected tissue explained.

Recovery, realistically

Days 1 to 3

In hospital with a catheter and bladder irrigation. Blood in the urine is expected.

Week 1 to 2

Burning and urgency when passing urine, which settles. Drink plenty. No heavy lifting.

Week 2 to 4

Flow noticeably better. Occasional blood in the urine can still appear as scabs separate.

Week 6 onwards

Full activity, including sex. The final result on flow is clear by now.

Risks you should be told about

  • Retrograde ejaculation, meaning semen passes backwards into the bladder, which is common and permanent
  • Bleeding needing a return to theatre or a transfusion, uncommon
  • Urinary infection
  • Narrowing of the urethra later, needing a further procedure
  • Incontinence, rare

Every operation carries risk. A surgeon who lists none is not being straight with you. Yours will go through these with you before you consent.

Questions people ask

Does an enlarged prostate mean cancer?

No. Benign enlargement is extremely common with age and is a different condition from prostate cancer. That is exactly why it should be assessed rather than assumed either way.

Will this affect my sex life?

TURP commonly causes retrograde ejaculation, so you will still reach orgasm but little or no semen comes out. It does not usually cause erectile dysfunction. You should be told this before you consent, not afterwards.

Will I need it done again?

Most men never do. A minority need a repeat procedure after ten years or more as the remaining tissue grows.

How long will I have a catheter?

Usually two to three days, removed before discharge. A small number of men go home with one for a short period.

Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 3 October 2026. They are what you would be quoted for the standard case described here. Your final quote follows an examination, because the right operation for you may not be this one.