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Cause
The
prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of the male reproductive
system. The prostate secretes fluid that carries sperm. It surrounds
the urethra, the canal which carries urine from the bladder out of the
body.
With
age and time, the prostate enlarges causing pressure on the urethra,
similar to a clamp on a garden hose. This causes
problems with urination.
Diagnosis
You
may first notice symptoms of BPH yourself, or your doctor may
find that your prostate is enlarged during a routine checkup.
When BPH is suspected,
you may be referred to an urologist. Several tests help the doctor
identify
the problem and decide the best course of treatment. The tests
vary from patient to patient, to view the most common click
here.
Rate
Your Symptoms
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AUA
Symptom Index
The American Urological Association (AUA) has drafted a simple symptom index
to help categorize BPH symptoms. It contains seven questions intended to classify
the severity of your BPH symptoms.
Rate
Your Symptoms
To
determine if you have symptoms of BPH, click
here to fill out a brief questionnaire. Choose the response
for each question that most likely corresponds to your latest experiences
by clicking on the button in the column that matches your answer.
Computing your Score
Choose the response for each question that is closest to your most recent experience.
To choose a response, click on the button in the column of your choice.
What
your score means:
0-7
Points
|
8-19
Points
|
20-35
Points
|
| Symptoms
are considered MILD. |
Symptoms
are considered MODERATE. |
Symptoms
are considered SEVERE. |
The
symptom index is recommended as a scoring instrument to be used during
an initial assessment of a patient having symptoms of BPH.
