The first step in getting treatment for BPH is to tell your doctor about your symptoms. With many options available that successfully treat BPH, there is no need to suffer with the disease. To effectively treat BPH symptoms the doctor will first need to use some evaluation tools to first rule out cancer and infection, and then evaluate the severity of the blockage to best tailor a treatment that will be most effective for each patient's situation.

BASIC EVALUATION PROCEDURES

A symptom score sheet index - Your doctor may ask you to complete a questionnaire to determine the seriousness of your symptoms. Download Prostate Sx Scoresheet

A complete medical history will be obtained including symptoms you are experiencing.

A physical examination will be performed which includes a digital exam to examine the prostate.

A Urinalysis is done to check urine for presence of bacteria or blood cells and to evaluate for any potential infection.

PSA Blood Test is often obtained. PSA is a specific substance produced only by the cells of the prostate gland. Patients with BPH, prostatitis, and cancer can have higher than normal levels of PSA. If your PSA is higher than it should be and an infection is not present your doctor may want to perform a prostate biopsy to make sure a cancer is not present (link to prostate cancer section on prostate biopsy for further information)

Bladder Scan is an ultrasound test that can be used to measure your post void residual (PVR) or the
amount of urine that remains in the bladder after urination.

Uroflowmetry measures urine flow and is often lower than normal in men with BPH.

Prostate Ultrasound takes a picture of the prostate using sound waves. The doctor will perform this test with a special probe, slightly larger than a finger, that is placed in the rectum to evaluate the size and shape of the prostate.

Urodynamics are used to measure the pressure in your bladder during bladder filling and urination to determine whether the urinary problems are due to weakening of the bladder muscle or blockage from an enlarged prostate.

Cystoscopy may be performed to allow your doctor to view the length of the prostate and to evaluate for any abnormalities of the urinary channel.

Once it has been determined that BPH is the cause of the symptoms and no other problems exist several
different types of therapy can be used to treat the symptoms.

Although many men believe these symptoms are just a part of getting older, the truth is, these symptoms are not normal at any age and over time these symptoms may be harmful to the bladder and kidneys. Incompletely emptying the bladder and overworking the bladder muscle can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones, and incontinence. It is important to seek treatment early because damage to the bladder can often be permanent. When BPH is recognized and treated in its early stages, however, there is a lower risk of developing such complications.