Articles · Prostate
How do you prepare for a prostate biopsy?
Follow your instructions about blood thinners and aspirin. Never stop these without checking with the doctor who prescribed them.
Blood thinners and aspirin
Follow your instructions about blood thinners and aspirin. Never stop these without checking with the doctor who prescribed them.
Because of the anesthesia
Because it's done under anesthesia, follow our instructions on when to stop eating and drinking, and plan for someone to drive you home.
Who needs a biopsy plan
Get checked if your PSA is high or an MRI showed a suspicious area, so we can plan the right biopsy.
Request a visit at Advanced Urology to go over your options.
Questions to bring to your visit
- Which of my medicines count as blood thinners?
- When do I stop eating and drinking beforehand?
- Who is driving me home?
What happens at your visit with us?
Before the biopsy, our team reviews your PSA history, any MRI and your medicines with you, and gives you written instructions. Read them a day or two ahead so there is time to call with questions.
When should I call us?
Call us if you are on an anticoagulant and have not yet heard when to pause it, if you have allergies or past problems with anesthesia, or if you feel unwell in the days before. Follow the written biopsy instructions you were given, and do not stop a blood thinner on your own. Fever, inability to urinate or heavy bleeding after the biopsy should go to an emergency room.
How do our urologists approach this?
Our urologists use imaging to guide the needle, and when an MRI shows a target, that area can be sampled directly. The tissue goes to a pathologist, and our urologists walk you through what it found when you come back.
Our urologists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners see adults from Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Crabapple and Mountain Park at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Related video
Advanced Urology’s podcast walks through a prostate biopsy step by step:
Related reading from our team
- Robotic Prostatectomy: Who Is a Fit?
- Brachytherapy Seeds for Prostate Cancer
- What Is an MRI Fusion Prostate Biopsy?
Related care: prostate cancer care at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Read more from Advanced Urology: Prostate biopsy pre-op and post-op instructions · Prostate cancer
For education, not medical advice. Every treatment has risks and benefits. Emergency? Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Whenever you’re ready, our Alpharetta / Roswell team would be glad to hear from you.