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How is BPH diagnosed?
Be prepared. Be ready to talk. You can help speed up the process.
BPH is diagnosed based on symptoms. That's why it's important to tell your
doctor if you are having symptoms such as frequent urination, straining to urinate,
and weak or interrupted stream. In 8 of 10 cases, the symptoms are due to BPH, but
they may also be due to other more serious conditions such as prostate or bladder
cancer. Your doctor may perform several tests
to rule out these other possible causes of urinary problems.
At the doctor's office…
First, your doctor will want to know about all of your symptoms, how severe they
are, and how much they bother you. The doctor will also ask about your health history,
including your family history. Then, you will usually have a digital rectal exam
or DRE. The doctor feels the size of your prostate by putting a gloved, lubricated
finger inside your rectum.
A sample of your urine will be taken to check for signs of infection and rule out
other causes of your urinary symptoms.
If you are seeing your primary care physician, he or she may refer you to a urologist
for further testing and care. A urologist is a physician who specializes in treating
problems of the male urinary tract and reproductive organs.
Other tests your doctor may order…
- PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test: This test helps rule out prostate cancer
as a cause of urinary symptoms.
- Urine flow study: You urinate into a special device to measure how quickly your
urine is flowing.
- Cystoscopy: This procedure allows the doctor to see inside the urethra and bladder
to check the location and extent of blockage.
- Rectal ultrasound and prostate biopsy: Only if cancer is suspected, the doctor
inserts a small probe into the rectum that uses sound waves to create a picture
of the prostate. If needed, the image guides a needle so the doctor can remove small
samples of prostate tissue for a biopsy. The prostate samples are then evaluated
under a microscope for signs of cancer.
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