Prostate Enlargement

Prostate Enlargement: What Are The Symptoms?

Although symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland may vary among individuals, the most common ones involve problems with passing urine.

A stream of urine that is hesitant before starting, weak in force, or intermittently interrupted while flowing can indicate an enlarged prostate gland. Dribbling, with one drop or less a second, may persist for 10 to 20 seconds or more at the end of urination.
There may be an urgency to urinate, or urine may leak at an inappropriate time. Some men feel as if their bladder is not completely empty; other may feel a sudden, urgent need to urinate.
Increased number of urinations, which is especially apparent at night and cause two or more nightly trips to the bathroom. This symptom results in interrupted and inadequate sleep.

About 80 percent of the time, these symptoms are caused by BPH, but they can also be the result of other conditions, such as prostate cancer that should be carefully diagnosed by a urologist.

The size of the prostate gland does not always correlate with the degree of urinary obstruction. Smaller prostate glands may cause more obstruction to the flow of urine than much larger ones.

How Severe Are Your Symptoms?

With the use of the following “symptom index” developed by the American Urological Association (AUA), a distinction can be made between symptoms.

To take the test, record the most appropriate number in each row or line.

Add the sum of the seven numbers you recorded. The ratings are as follows:

Mild (0-7 points)
Moderate (8-19 points)
Severe (20-35 points).

This symptom index can be used during the initial diagnosis and as a record of improvement following treatment.

Questions to be answered	Not at all	Less than 1 time in 5	Less than half the time	About half the time	More than half the time	Almost always
Over the past month, how often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finished urinating?	0	1	2	3	4	5
Over the past month, how often have you had to urinate again less than two hours after you finished urinating?	0	1	2	3	4	5
Over the past month, how often have you found you stopped and started again several times when you urinated?	0	1	2	3	4	5
Over the past month, how often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?	0	1	2	3	4	5
Over the past month, how often have you had a weak urinary stream?	0	1	2	3	4	5
Over the past month, how often have you had to push or strain to begin urination?	0	1	2	3	4	5
Over the past month, how many times did you most typically get up to urinate from the time you went to bed at night until the time you got up in the morning?	0 (none)	1 (1 time)	2 (2 times)	3 (3 times)	4 (4 times)	5 (5 times)

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