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preparing for prostate tests

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Talking to Your Doctor or Nurse About Prostate Problems

Letting your doctor or nurse know you have a problem is the first step. Try to give as many details about the problem as you can, including when it began and how often it occurs. Tell the doctor or nurse whether you have had recurrent urinary tract infections or symptoms such as pain after ejaculation or during urination, sudden strong urges, or hesitancy and weak urine stream.

You should talk about the medicines you take, both prescription medicines and those you can buy over the counter, because they might be part of the problem. You should also talk about how much fluid you typically drink each day, whether you use caffeine or alcohol, and whether your urine has an unusual color or odor.

In turn, the doctor or nurse will ask you about your general medical history, including any major illnesses or surgeries.

Other typical questions are:

• Over the past month or so, how often have you had to urinate again in less than two hours?
• Over the past month, from the time you went to bed at night until the time you got up in the morning, how many times a night did you typically get up to urinate?
• Over the past month or so, how often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finished urinating?
• Over the past month or so, how often have you had a weak urinary stream?
• Over the past month or so, how often have you had to push or strain to begin urinating?

Your answers to these questions may help your doctor or nurse identify the problem or determine what tests are needed. You may also receive a symptom score evaluation that can be used as a baseline to see how effective later treatments are at relieving those symptoms.

Preparing for the Exam

The common tests your doctor or nurse will perform first require no special preparation. Digital rectal exams (DRE) and blood tests for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) are often included in routine physical examinations for men over 50. For African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer, it is recommended that tests be given starting at age 40. Some organizations even recommend that these tests be given to all men starting at age 40.

If you have urination problems or if the DRE or PSA test indicates that you might have a problem, you will probably be given additional tests that may require some preparation. Ask your doctor or nurse whether you should change your diet or fluid intake or stop taking any medications. If the tests involve inserting instruments into the urethra or rectum, you may be given antibiotics before and after the test to prevent infection.

NIH Publication No. 04-5105
August 2004
Posted January 2006

26 South Main Street, PMB #162 . Concord, NH 03301 . Phone: 603 397-0103