1
A conversation
Your urologist asks about urine symptoms, sexual health, medicines and family history, and may use the symptom score above. It takes a few minutes and nothing is uncomfortable.
Movember · Men's health month · November 2026
Written & reviewed by Dr. Anand UttureMCh (Urology) · Updated 13 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
This Movember, grow a moustache and get your prostate checked
Half of all men have an enlarged prostate by 60, and prostate cancer often has no early symptoms. Here is the simple check every man over 50 should know about, and a 2-minute symptom score you can take right now.
Written & reviewed by Dr. Anand UttureMCh (Urology) · Updated 13 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
In short
Why November is about the prostate
Movember began as a campaign where men grow moustaches through November to start conversations about men's health. Its biggest message is simple: men wait too long to get checked, and the prostate is where that delay costs the most.
The prostate is a small gland below the bladder that surrounds the urine pipe. As men age it can enlarge, get inflamed, or develop cancer. All three can feel similar at first, and only a check can tell them apart.
Quick answer
Every man should discuss a prostate check, including a PSA blood test, from age 50, or from 45 if a father or brother had prostate cancer. See a urologist sooner if you have a weak stream, get up at night to pass urine, or see blood in the urine or semen. An enlarged prostate is common and treatable, and it does not cause cancer.
50%
of men have an enlarged prostate by age 60, rising to about 90% by 85.
47,000+
prostate cancer cases projected in India in 2025, up about 13% from 2020.
Age 50
to start the PSA conversation; age 45 with a family history.
Know the difference
Three common prostate problems
They can cause similar urinary symptoms, but they are very different conditions with different treatments.
Most common
Enlarged prostate (BPH)
- Non-cancerous growth that comes with age
- Weak stream, dribbling, getting up at night
- Treated with tablets, or laser surgery if needed
- Does not turn into cancer
Silent
Prostate cancer
- Often no symptoms in the early stage
- Picked up by a PSA blood test and MRI
- Often very treatable when found early
- Higher risk with age and family history
Any age
Prostatitis
- Infection or inflammation of the prostate
- Burning, pelvic pain, fever or painful ejaculation
- Can affect younger men too
- Treated with antibiotics and supportive care
Interactive
Your 2-minute prostate symptom score
Think about the last month. Tap the answer that fits best for each question. Based on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) used by urologists worldwide.
How often have you felt your bladder was not completely empty after passing urine?
How often have you had to pass urine again less than 2 hours after you finished?
How often has your stream stopped and started again several times?
How often have you found it difficult to hold urine once you felt the urge?
How often have you had a weak urine stream?
How often have you had to push or strain to start passing urine?
How many times do you usually get up at night to pass urine?
0/ 35
Answer all 7 questions
Your score and what it means will appear here.
This score measures symptoms only. It cannot tell an enlarged prostate from cancer, and a low score does not replace a PSA test.
What to expect
What a prostate check involves
2
Urine test
A simple urine sample checks for infection, blood and sugar, which can all cause prostate-like symptoms.
3
PSA blood test
PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is a protein made by the prostate. A raised level can mean enlargement, infection or cancer, so it is a signal to look further, not a diagnosis.
Before the testAvoid ejaculation and long cycling rides for 48 hours, and tell your doctor about any recent urine infection. These can raise PSA temporarily.
4
Ultrasound and flow test
An ultrasound measures the prostate size and how much urine is left in the bladder. A flow test (uroflowmetry) records how strong your stream is. Neither test is usually uncomfortable.
5
MRI if PSA is raised
Current European guidelines recommend a prostate MRI before any biopsy. It shows whether there is a suspicious area and helps many men avoid an unnecessary biopsy.
6
Biopsy only if needed
If the MRI shows a suspicious spot, a targeted biopsy confirms or rules out cancer. Many men who get checked never need a biopsy.
Prostate care treatments →
When to start
PSA testing: the right age for you
These ages follow the European Association of Urology guidelines for men who are well and expect to live at least 15 more years.
40If you carry a BRCA2 gene change
45If your father or brother had prostate cancer before 60
50For every man: discuss a PSA test with your doctor
70+A personal decision based on your health and earlier PSA results
About the author
Dr. Anand Utture
Consultant urologist and andrologist in Mumbai, and Head of Urology at S.L. Raheja Hospital. He evaluates and treats enlarged prostate, prostatitis and prostate cancer, including minimally invasive laser prostate surgery.
- MBBS, MS, DNB, MCh (Urology), FICS (USA) · MMC Reg. No. 66401
- Trained in Mumbai, Sydney, New Zealand and Singapore
- Prostate care, andrology and men's health
Don't wait for November
See a urologist straight away if you have
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Sudden inability to pass urine, or a painfully full bladder
- Fever with burning urine or pain between the legs
- New back or bone pain with weight loss
- A PSA result your doctor called raised
Being unable to pass urine at all is an emergency. Go to the nearest hospital.
FAQs
Related guides
Questions men ask about the prostate
Discuss a PSA test with your doctor from age 50. Start at 45 if your father or brother had prostate cancer before 60, and at 40 if you carry a BRCA2 gene change.
No. An enlarged prostate (BPH) is a non-cancerous condition and does not turn into cancer. But both are common with age, so men with BPH should still have the usual prostate cancer checks.
Not necessarily. PSA can rise with an enlarged prostate, infection, recent ejaculation or long cycling. Your urologist may repeat the test and suggest an MRI before deciding whether a biopsy is needed.
No fasting is needed. It is a simple blood test. Avoid ejaculation and long cycle rides for about 48 hours before it.
Mild symptoms often need only lifestyle changes and monitoring. Tablets relax or shrink the prostate. If symptoms are severe or tablets do not help enough, minimally invasive laser prostate surgery can give long-lasting relief for many men, usually with a short hospital stay.
Yes. When it is found early and still confined to the prostate, treatment is often very successful, and some slow-growing cancers only need careful monitoring. Outcomes depend on the stage and type of cancer, which is why regular checks matter.
Talk to a urologist about a prostate check
If you are over 50, have a family history or have urinary symptoms, discuss whether a prostate check is right for you. Dr. Anand Utture consults in Mahim, Bandra and Khar.
Prepared with AI assistance and medically reviewed by Dr. Anand Utture, MCh (Urology). MMC Reg. No. 66401.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor for your condition. Sources: EAU Prostate Cancer Guidelines, Medscape: BPH, ICMR-NCRP projection.