A Woman's Guide to Prostate Health

The Ten Signs of a Prostate Problem:

1. In the car, is he stopping more often to visit the restroom?
2. Are social activities increasingly revolving around frequent bathroom visits?
3. Does he wake often to urinate?
4. Does his underwear have urine stains?
5. Do you hear complaints about a weak flow with less force and having to "push" the urine out?
6. Does he say it feels like his bladder is not emptying?
7. Does he complain of trouble starting or stopping urine flow?
8. Does it appear he is unable to urinate naturally?
9. Does he complain about burning or painful urination?
10. Has he mentioned blood in his urine, painful ejaculation, or frequent pain in the lower back, hips or thighs?

All of these signs can be indicators of a prostate problem. If you become aware of all or some of these signs, have him call a urologist/prostate specialist for an appointment. If he is reluctant, you do it. In the meantime, see if simple changes in routine can help clear up or improve the problem—like stopping liquids two hours before bedtime.

What you should do if these symptoms arise

Women must develop Prostate Radar

You can do this through observation, education and knowledge of his family history. But this can be difficult—when confronted by a health condition, men often stop talking. Women must look for changes in behavior—where the man regularly begins to remove himself from situations that may become uncomfortable for him because of underlying urinary conditions, or where there could be pain upon urination, embarrassment or bladder inconvenience.