Which Tests Should Men With Prostate Complaints Have In A Check-Up?

Prostate complaints usually appear with symptoms such as frequent urination, waking up at night to urinate, difficulty urinating, intermittent urination, weakening of urine flow, feeling of incomplete emptying or dripping after urination. These complaints may be related to benign prostate enlargement, infection, bladder problems or more serious conditions.

Therefore, in men with prostate complaints, check-up should not be considered limited only to the PSA test. Urinary tract, kidney functions, bladder emptying and prostate structure should be evaluated together. Especially age, family history and duration of complaints are important factors affecting the test plan.

PSA And Prostate Evaluation

PSA is an important blood test used in the evaluation of prostate diseases. However, PSA elevation alone does not mean cancer. Prostate enlargement, infection, some recent procedures or urinary tract problems may also affect PSA level. Therefore, the result should definitely be interpreted together with clinical findings.

The following evaluations may be performed within the scope of check-up:

• Total PSA: Used in prostate-related risk evaluation.
• Free PSA: Can be interpreted together with total PSA in some cases.
• Urological Examination: May give an idea about the size and structure of the prostate.
• Symptom Scoring: Helps evaluate the severity of urinary symptoms.
• Family History Evaluation: Important in determining risk for prostate diseases.

Urinalysis And Kidney Functions

Prostate complaints may be confused with urinary tract infection, bladder stone, urinary retention or obstructions affecting the kidneys. Therefore, urinalysis and kidney function tests should definitely be considered in the check-up. Evaluation becomes more important especially if there is burning, fever, bloody urine or low back pain.

The following tests may be requested in this context:

• Complete Urinalysis: May show infection, bleeding or protein presence.
• Urine Culture: Helps identify the microorganism when infection is suspected.
• Creatinine And eGFR: Used to evaluate kidney functions.
• Urea: Contributes to monitoring kidney function.
• Complete Blood Count: Provides supportive information in terms of infection or inflammatory processes.

Ultrasound And Bladder Emptying Evaluation

In prostate complaints, imaging provides valuable information about prostate size and bladder emptying. With ultrasound, kidneys, bladder and prostate area can be evaluated. The amount of urine remaining in the bladder after urination is also important for follow-up.

Headings that can be evaluated are as follows:

• Urinary System Ultrasound: Provides information about kidneys, bladder and prostate surroundings.
• Prostate Volume: Used in the evaluation of prostate enlargement.
• Residual Urine Measurement: Shows the amount remaining in the bladder after urination.
• Bladder Wall Evaluation: May give an idea about the effects of long-term obstruction.
• Advanced Urological Tests If Needed: May be planned according to findings.

Which Men Should Be Followed More Regularly?

In men with prostate complaints, follow-up frequency is determined according to age, PSA level, family history and severity of complaints. Regular follow-up is especially more important in men over 50, those with a family history of prostate cancer or those whose urinary complaints are gradually increasing.

If there is bloody urine, unexplained weight loss, bone pain, inability to urinate, urinary complaint with fever or rapidly worsening symptoms, evaluation should be performed without waiting for routine check-up. Since these findings may be signs of different health problems, they should not be delayed.

Follow Your Prostate Health More Consciously With Happ Health Check-Up

Prostate complaints may affect daily quality of life and in some cases may require more comprehensive evaluation. Happ Health helps access check-up options through a digital health platform and supports more planned handling of PSA, urine tests, kidney functions and imaging evaluations.

Through Happ Health, you can review check-up options, plan a screening process suitable for your prostate complaints and interpret your results together with physician evaluation. Thus, you can manage both your current complaints and your long-term male health follow-up more regularly.