A prostate biopsy is a medical procedure where a doctor removes small samples of tissue from the prostate gland to check for signs of cancer or other abnormalities.

Here’s how it typically works:

• Why it’s done: Most often ordered when blood tests (like PSA) or a digital rectal exam show something unusual.

• How it’s done:

  • A needle is used to take tiny pieces of tissue from different parts of the prostate.

  • This is usually guided by ultrasound (transrectal ultrasound, TRUS) or sometimes MRI.

  • The needle may be inserted through the rectum (most common), the perineum (skin between scrotum and anus), or less commonly, the urethra.

• What happens next: The tissue samples are examined under a microscope by a pathologist to look for cancer cells.

• Duration: Usually takes about 10–20 minutes as an outpatient procedure.

• Aftereffects: It’s common to see some blood in urine, stool, or semen for a short period. Antibiotics are often given to reduce infection risk.

👉 In short: It’s the standard test used to diagnose prostate cancer.

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