Night Waking & Prostate Woes: Your IPSS Self-Check and Comprehensive BPH/Cancer Plan

Night Waking & Prostate Woes: Your IPSS Self-Check and Comprehensive BPH/Cancer Plan

Prostate Symptoms IPSS Self-Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide to Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment from BPH to Prostate Cancer

🎯 Detection & Screening

The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is the most widely used and easiest self-assessment tool for evaluating urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, BPH).

The IPSS includes 7 symptom questions, with each question scored based on frequency from 0 (None) to 5 (Almost Always).

Symptom Question (Frequency Score: 0 5)

  1. Incomplete Emptying: Over the past month, how often have you had the sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finished urinating?
  2. Frequency: Over the past month, how often have you had to urinate again less than two hours after you finished urinating?
  3. Intermittency: Over the past month, how often have you found you stopped and started again several times when you urinated?
  4. Urgency: Over the past month, how often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?
  5. Weak Stream: Over the past month, how often have you had a weak urinary stream?
  6. Straining/Hesitancy: Over the past month, how often have you had to push or strain to begin urination?
  7. Nocturia: Over the past month, how many times did you typically get up to urinate from the time you went to bed until the time you got up in the morning?

0 - 7 points Mild Symptoms
Watchful Waiting: Recommended for observation, lifestyle adjustments, and re-evaluation every 3-6 months or as needed.

8 - 19 points Moderate Symptoms
Consultation: Recommended to consult a doctor for potential further examination and appropriate treatment to alleviate symptoms.

20 - 35 points Severe Symptoms
Urgent Medical Attention: Recommended to seek medical attention immediately for necessary checks and appropriate treatment.

📌 Screening Guidelines

It is generally recommended to discuss PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) and DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) screeningwith a doctor starting at age 50. If you are in a high-risk group (family history of prostate cancer, African American), screening should begin earlier, between ages 40-45.


Prostate Problem Diagnosis and Corresponding Strategies

Treatment plans depend on the type of disease, severity, and the patient's overall health condition.


1. Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

  • Mild Symptoms: Watchful Waiting and lifestyle modifications (e.g., reducing fluid intake before bedtime, avoiding caffeine and alcohol).

  • Moderate to Severe Symptoms:

    • Medication: -blockers (to relax the bladder neck and prostate smooth muscles) or -reductase inhibitors (to shrink prostate volume).

    • Surgical Treatment: Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) or other minimally invasive procedures (e.g., laser surgery).

2. Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Treatment methods vary and must be decided based on the stage, malignancy grade (Gleason Score), and PSA value.

  • Early-Stage/Low-Risk: Active Surveillance (regular check-ups including PSA, DRE, and biopsy) to avoid unnecessary treatment side effects.

  • Localized Disease: Surgical Removal (Radical Prostatectomy) or Radiation Therapy.

  • Advanced/Metastatic Disease: Hormone Therapy (Androgen Deprivation), Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, or Immunotherapy.

3. Treatment of Prostatitis

  • Bacterial Prostatitis: Antibiotic Therapy.

  • Non-Bacterial/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Medication (e.g., pain relievers, muscle relaxants), Physical Therapy, Lifestyle Adjustments.

🌱 Healthy Lifestyle and Prevention

 

While complete prevention of prostate problems is not possible, a healthy lifestyle can help manage and reduce risk.

  • Balanced Diet: Increase intake of foods rich in lycopene (e.g., tomatoes), selenium, and Vitamin E. Reduce consumption of red meat and high-fat foods.

  • Regular Exercise: Maintain a healthy body weight, which helps lower the risk of BPH and prostate cancer.

  • Maintain Urination Habits: Do not hold urine excessively, and maintain regular urination.

  • Regular Check-ups: Based on age and risk factors, undergo regular PSA and DRE examinations.

 

⚠️ Important Reminder

 

  • IPSS is only a preliminary assessment tool: This score primarily addresses urinary issues caused by BPH and should not be used to diagnose prostate cancer or replace a professional medical evaluation.

  • Prostate Cancer: Early symptoms of prostate cancer can be similar to BPH or may be completely absent. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) are the primary screening methods for prostate cancer, and these must be performed by a doctor.

  • When to See a Doctor: Regardless of your IPSS score, if urinary symptoms are significantly bothering your daily life, or if you experience other abnormal symptoms such as blood in the urine or persistent pain, you should consult a specialist Urologist immediately.

 

👍 Positive Review: Vigour NMN 19800+ Men's Formula

 

"As I got older, what I feared most was frequent nighttime urination. Waking up two or three times a night meant poor sleep quality, and I couldn't focus at work during the day. I saw that this Vigour NMN product contained Black Maca and Zinc, so I decided to give it a try. The effect was truly better than expected!

Initially, I just felt more energetic and no longer dozed off during meetings. What surprised me most was that after about a month, the number of times I woke up at night clearly decreased, from two or three times to at most once, and sometimes I could even sleep through the night! Although the product mainly focuses on boosting stamina, I believe it significantly improved the circulation and function in my lower body. This indirectly solved my nocturnal troubles, allowing both my wife and me to sleep more soundly. Definitely worth repurchasing!"


Back to blog