Less than half of all men with BPH have symptoms of the disease, which include:

• Slowed or delayed start of the urinary stream
• Weak urine stream
• Dribbling after urinating
• Straining to urinate
• Strong and sudden urge to urinate
• Incomplete emptying of your bladder
• Needing to urinate 2 or more times per night
• Urinary retention (complete inability to urinate)
• Incontinence
• Pain with urination or bloody urine (these may indicate infection)

• A digital rectal exam (where your doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to feel the size and shape of the prostate gland) may reveal an enlarged, firm prostate.
• Urine flow rate may be measured.
• The amount of urine left in your bladder after urination may be measured. (This is called post-void residual urine.)
• Pressure flow studies will measure the pressure in the bladder as you urinate.
• An IVP (an x-ray study) may be done to confirm the diagnosis or look for blockage.
• Urinalysis may be done to check for blood or infection.
• Urine culture may be used to evaluate for infection.
• Voiding cystourethrogram (another x-ray study) may be performed.
• A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test may be performed to screen for prostate cancer.
• Cystoscopy may be performed to visualize the prostate and bladder if surgery is required.

In addition, you may be asked to complete a self-screening form to evaluate the severity of your symptoms and the impact on your daily life. Your score on the screening tool may be compared to past records to evaluate progression of the disease.