One hundred and twenty patients were injected with 3 ml of 1% lidocaine and 3 ml of saline (control) to opposite sides of the periprostatic region prior to undergoing a prostate biopsy. Pain during the biopsy procedure was assessed with the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (0 - 5). The number of patients describing a pain score of 2 or greater decreased from 38 (31.7%) on the control side to 15 (12.5%) on the lidocaine side whilst 82 patients (68.3%) registered a pain score of 0 or 1 on the control side. A decrease of 1, 2 or 3 in the pain score on the lidocaine side compared with the control side was found in 30%, 12.5% and 0.8% of patients respectively. The nerve block should be applied to patients who desire it following an explanation of the results of this study.