IPSS · 3 minutes
Prostate symptoms (IPSS)
Reflect on the past month. Seven core questions about urinary symptoms plus one quality-of-life question. Score categorises severity from mild to severe and points to medical, minimally invasive, or surgical options.
Incomplete emptying — how often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finished urinating?
Educational tool — not a diagnosis. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Barry et al. 1992. Adopted by the American Urological Association and World Health Organization as the standard BPH severity instrument.
Frequently asked
Plain-language answers about prostate (ipss), this screener, and what evaluation costs at a Class A hospital in China.
- What does my IPSS score mean?
- Total 0–7 mild symptoms (watchful waiting reasonable). 8–19 moderate (medical therapy commonly indicated). 20–35 severe (medical therapy, minimally invasive procedure, or surgery commonly indicated). The quality-of-life item helps weigh how much the symptoms bother you irrespective of total.
- What treatment options are available in China?
- Class A urology departments offer the full spectrum: alpha blockers (tamsulosin), 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride, dutasteride), combination therapy, minimally invasive procedures (UroLift, Rezūm, prostatic urethral lift), TURP, holmium laser enucleation, robotic prostatectomy. Pricing is typically 50–75% below US private rates.
- When is surgery indicated?
- Severe symptoms despite medical therapy, urinary retention, recurrent UTI, bladder stones, recurrent haematuria, or upper-tract dilatation are classical indications. Modern minimally invasive options have largely replaced traditional TURP for many patients.
About this screener
International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Barry et al. 1992. Adopted by the American Urological Association and World Health Organization as the standard BPH severity instrument.
What this screener covers
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia(ICD-10 N40)
- Lower urinary tract symptoms(ICD-10 R39.1)
Validated source
Medical review
Reviewed by Panda Touring Care medical team (Urology coordinator review) · last reviewed 2025-04-01
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