Problems with urinating are the most common symptoms of prostate disease.  A man should visit his doctor if he regularly experiences one of the following:

• a weak, sometimes intermittent flow of urine

• difficulty in starting to urinate

• a need to urinate frequently

• a need to urinate urgently (do not feel able to put it off)

• having to urinate several times during the night (over a period of time)

• a feeling that the bladder is not completely empty after urinating

• pain or burning when passing urine

• blood in the urine or semen

Of course, problems may develop before any symptoms arise.  For this reason, it’s generally advisable for most men over 50 to have an annual health check which includes an assessment of the prostate, including a PSA test (but read the section about this test first).