Medical History and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

An important part of diagnosing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is your medical history.

It may help if you keep a diary of symptoms for a week or so before your doctor visit. In the diary, record your symptoms, noting when they occur and how severe they are. The diary should also include how often you urinate during the day, how many times you get up to urinate during the night, and the times you cannot hold your urine.

The doctor will ask questions about:

• Your symptoms.
• Previous surgery.
• Your sexual history.
• Your use of medication, including nonprescription drugs.
• Your overall health and fitness for surgery.

The doctor may give you a short questionnaire, such as the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index. This is not used to diagnose BPH, but to help you estimate the severity of your symptoms and how much they interfere with your life.

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