Sept. 1, 2025—You might not hear about it much, but prostate problems are common, especially as people age. They can have a variety of causes, not just cancer. That's why it's important for every man to know the signs of a prostate problem—and know when to get help.
Watch out for these symptoms
According to the National Institute on Aging, a problem with the prostate can cause a range of symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you notice:
- Frequent urination, especially at night.
- Trouble starting the flow of urine.
- A weak or interrupted urine stream.
- A sudden and urgent need to urinate.
- Dribbling after you stop urinating.
- Pain during urination or ejaculation.
- Blood in your urine or semen.
- Fever or chills along with some of the previous symptoms.
- Back, hip or pelvis pain.
These changes could be signs of prostate cancer. But changes in urination are more likely to be caused by a benign condition, like benign prostatic hyperplasia, says the American Cancer Society (ACS). Prostatitis is another common possibility.
If you have a prostate problem, getting the right diagnosis is key to getting the treatment you need. If you're living with prostate symptoms, it's important to let your doctor know right away.
Time for a prostate cancer screening?
Knowing the symptoms of prostate cancer and other problems can help you get the care you need. But the ACS warns that prostate cancer doesn't usually cause symptoms in its early stages, when it's easier to treat.
That's where screenings come in. Screening helps doctors find prostate cancer early, before it causes symptoms. A common screening method is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which looks for elevated levels of a protein, called PSA, in the blood.
Ask your doctor about the pros and cons of PSA screenings and whether they're right for you. Depending on your risk, the right time to discuss prostate cancer screening with your doctor could be at age 45 or 50. To learn more, take our prostate cancer screening assessment, and talk to your doctor about the results.
Sources
- American Academy of Family Physicians. "Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)." https://familydoctor.org/condition/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-bph.
- American Cancer Society. "Screening Tests for Prostate Cancer." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/tests.html.
- American Cancer Society. "Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer." https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html.
- National Association for Continence. "Common Prostate Cancer Symptoms." https://nafc.org/bhealth-blog/know-the-symptoms-of-prostate-cancer.
- National Cancer Institute. "Understanding Prostate Changes and Conditions." https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/understanding-prostate-changes.
- National Institute on Aging. "Prostate Problems." https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prostate-health/prostate-problems.