Prostate Symptoms Test - Questionnaire for Men

American Urological Association Symptom Index

The American Urological Association (AUA) has developed the following questionnaire to help men determine how bothersome their urinary symptoms are and to check the effectiveness of treatment.  This questionnaire has also been adopted worldwide and is known as the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). It's sometimes seen with a Quality of Life Scale at the end of the questionnaire.

Take this very short questionaire from the American Urological Association to help you decide if you may have issues with your prostate that need to be treated.

For many men, the symptoms are as much a part of aging as graying hair: Frequent urgent urination.  A weak or intermittent stream. Having to get up several times at night.

While worrisome, the problem, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), isn't linked to cancer. The prostate gland simply becomes enlarged, pressing the urethra and making urination difficult.

According to the American Urological Association, this simple seven-question test can help you decide whether you have a problem or not and if it needs treatment.

Please answer these quick questions: 

Prostate Symptoms Test

Over the past month or so...

Question 1 of 7
How often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you have finished urinating?
Not at all

Less than 1 time in 5
Less than half the time
About half the time
More than half the time
Almost always

Question 2 of 7
How often have you had to urinate again less than two hours after you finished urinating?
Not at all
Less than 1 time in 5
Less than half the time
About half the time
More than half the time
Almost always

Over the past month or so...

Question 3 of 7
How often have you found you stopped and started again several times while you urinated?
Not at all
Less than 1 time in 5
Less than half the time
About half the time
More than half the time
Almost always

Question 4 of 7
How often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?
Not at all
Less than 1 time in 5
Less than half the time
About half the time
More than half the time
Almost always

Question 5 of 7
How often have you had a weak urinary stream?
Not at all
Less than 1 time in 5
Less than half the time
About half the time
More than half the time
Almost always

Question 6 of 7
How often have you had to push or strain to begin urination?
Not at all
Less than 1 time in 5
Less than half the time
About half the time
More than half the time
Almost always

Question 7 of 7
How often have you had to get up at least once in the night to urinate?
Not at all
Less than 1 time in 5
Less than half the time
About half the time
More than half the time
Almost always

American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index point scale

Use the following point scale to answer the questions.

• 0 points means you answered no to the question.
• 1 point means you answered yes to the question less than once in 5 times.
• 2 points means you answered yes to the question less than half of the time.
• 3 points means you answered yes to the question about half of the time.
• 4 points means you answered yes to the question more than half of the time.
• 5 points means you answered yes to the question almost always.

Total your score.

Your score shows how severe your symptoms are. The symptom index may be used to develop a treatment plan. Your doctor may also ask you to take the test again after treatment to see how well treatment helped your symptoms.

Compare your total score to the list below:

0-7 mild

8-19 moderate

20-35 severe

Quality of Life

If you were to spend the rest of your life with your urinary condition just the way it is now, how would you feel about that?

• Delighted
• Pleased
• Mostly satisfied
• Mixed
• Mostly dissatisfied
• Unhappy
• Terrible