Funding research and education to beat prostate disease
Symptoms and testing
Prostate problems are becoming more common as our life expectancy increases. Although older men are more susceptible, some prostate disorders can affect men of any age.
Early treatment and accurate diagnosis is the key to managing these diseases and preventing them ruining lives. Better self awareness amongst men and healthier lifestyles are also essential to prevention and early detection.
Problems with urinating are the most common symptoms of prostate disease. You should visit your doctor if you regularly experience one of the following:
- A weak sometimes intermittent flow of urine.
- Difficulty starting to urinate.
- A need to urinate frequently.
- A need to urinate urgently (you do not feel able to put it off).
- Having to go to the toilet several times during the night.
- A feeling that your bladder is not completely empty after you have finished urinating.
- Pain or burning when passing urine.
- Blood in your urine.
- Pain in the back, hips or pelvis.
Visiting your doctor does not commit you to medical or surgical treatment, but allows a thorough assessment to be carried out. This enables you to make an informed decision about treatment options.
A prostate problem is diagnosed using various methods of investigation. Your doctor will take a thorough case history and carry out a physical examination, including a digital rectal examination (DRE). Your doctor may then decide to perform further tests, such as a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and may refer you to a urologist for additional diagnostic tests, such as a biopsy and/or ultrasound scan.
