International prostate symptom score (IPSS)
The international prostate symptom score (IPSS) is an 8 question (7 symptom questions + 1 quality of life question) screening tool used in screening, diagnosis, symptom tracking, and aiding management of the symptoms associated with bladder emptying and is useful in those with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate carcinoma.
Score
It comprises of
Frequency of sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after finishing urinating over a past month
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of having had to urinate again less than 2 hours after finishing urinating in over the past month
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of having to stop and start again several times when urinating over the past month?
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of having found it difficult to postpone urination over the past month,?
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of having had a weak urinary stream over the past month,?
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of having had to push or strain to begin urination over the past month?
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of you most typically getting up to urinate from the time since going to bed at night until the time of getting up in the morning over the past month,?
- none (0 points)
- 1 time (1 point)
- 2 times (2 points)
- 3 times (3 points)
- 4 times (4 points)
- 5 or more times (5 points)
Over the past month, how often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finished urinating?
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Over the past month, how often have you had to urinate again less than 2 hours after you finished urinating?
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Over the past month, how often have you found you stopped and started again several times when you urinated?
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of difficulty in postponing urination over the past month
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of weak urinary stream over the past month
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
Frequency of having to had to push or strain to begin urination over the past month
- not at all (0 points)
- less than 1 time in 5 (1 point)
- less than half the time (2 points)
- about half the time (3 points)
- more than half the time (4 points)
- almost always (5 points)
The number of times needed to typically get up to urinate from the time since going to at night until the time you got up in the morning over the past month
- none (0 points)
- once (1 point)
- twice (2 points)
- 3 times (3 points)
- 4 times (4 points)
- 5 or more times (5 points)
Correlation
- score: 0-7 = mildly symptomatic
- score 8-19 = moderately symptomatic
- score 20-35 = severely symptomatic
