Does a GP consultation treat benign prostatic hyperplasia?

The consultation covers weak flow, hesitancy, urgency, frequent night-time urination, dribbling, and the feeling that the bladder has not emptied. The GP may ask about fluid intake, constipation, medicines, diabetes, and previous urinary problems. Depending on your symptoms, they may suggest urine testing, a prostate examination, blood tests, or a bladder scan. Treatment can involve monitoring mild symptoms, changing habits, or prescribing medicine to relax the prostate and bladder outlet. Referral is considered when symptoms are troublesome, the diagnosis is uncertain, or complications are suspected.

Keep a short record of drinks, toilet visits, night waking, urgency, and leakage before the appointment. Limit drinks that worsen urgency if your clinician agrees, reduce evening fluids when appropriate, and avoid delaying urination for long periods. Review medicines with the GP rather than stopping them yourself. Mention blood in the urine, pain, recurrent infections, or sexual side effects because each can affect the assessment and treatment choice.

Seek urgent care if you cannot pass urine, have severe lower-abdominal pain, fever with urinary symptoms, or feel acutely unwell. Prompt assessment is also needed for visible blood in the urine, flank pain, or worsening symptoms. An enlarged prostate can contribute to blockage, but urinary symptoms can have other causes, so they should be assessed rather than assumed to be BPH.

Ask which tests are appropriate, whether monitoring is reasonable, how any medicine works, and what side effects to watch for. Ask when symptoms should be reviewed and when a urology referral would be helpful.