A total of 84 patients underwent detailed symptom analysis and urodynamic study preoperatively, and 3 and 12 months after transurethral resection of the prostate. In addition, 69 patients were contacted 3 years postoperatively for a detailed symptom analysis. These 3-year data then were compared to earlier evaluations. At 3 years 75 per cent of the patients claimed to have improvement, while 13 per cent stated that they were the same symptomatically. At the 1-year evaluation 84 per cent of the patients believed that they were improved and 10 per cent stated that they were unchanged. At 3 years 18 per cent of the patients had urge incontinence (an increase from 6 per cent at 1 year), while none complained of marked nocturia or frequency. Mean total irritative and obstructive symptoms were minimal and unchanged from the 1-year evaluation. Of the patients 33 per cent noticed decreased or absent erections and most blamed the surgery. One patient required another prostatic resection, while stricture developed in 3 and bladder neck contracture occurred in 6. We conclude that prostatic resection results in reasonable 3-year symptomatic improvement but it is hampered by other complications, including bladder neck contracture and, possibly, impotence.