International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)
Severity of lower urinary tract symptoms over the past month.
Inputs
0 of 7Incomplete emptying
Frequency (again within 2 h)
Intermittency
Urgency
Weak stream
Straining
Nocturia (times per night)
Quality of life due to urinary symptoms
When to use
- Diagnosis and follow-up of benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms.
Pearls and pitfalls
- 0–7 mild, 8–19 moderate, 20–35 severe.
- A 3-point change is clinically noticeable.
Why use
Tracks response to alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Incomplete emptying: Not at all | 0 |
| Less than 1 in 5 | +1 |
| Less than half | +2 |
| About half | +3 |
| More than half | +4 |
| Almost always | +5 |
| Frequency (again within 2 h): Not at all | 0 |
| Less than 1 in 5 | +1 |
| Less than half | +2 |
| About half | +3 |
| More than half | +4 |
| Almost always | +5 |
| Intermittency: Not at all | 0 |
| Less than 1 in 5 | +1 |
| Less than half | +2 |
| About half | +3 |
| More than half | +4 |
| Almost always | +5 |
| Urgency: Not at all | 0 |
| Less than 1 in 5 | +1 |
| Less than half | +2 |
| About half | +3 |
| More than half | +4 |
| Almost always | +5 |
| Weak stream: Not at all | 0 |
| Less than 1 in 5 | +1 |
| Less than half | +2 |
| About half | +3 |
| More than half | +4 |
| Almost always | +5 |
| Straining: Not at all | 0 |
| Less than 1 in 5 | +1 |
| Less than half | +2 |
| About half | +3 |
| More than half | +4 |
| Almost always | +5 |
| Nocturia (times per night): None | 0 |
| 1 | +1 |
| 2 | +2 |
| 3 | +3 |
| 4 | +4 |
| 5 or more | +5 |