International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)

The IPSS questionnaire allows your GP to better understand the severity of your urinary symptoms. It is used for men who are having problems that are likely to be related to an enlarged prostate. It is helpful in determining which treatment option is best for you and then monitoring any improvement. There are 7 questions relating to different symptoms you might be experiencing and one question relating to your overall quality of life. Once you have scored each question the values are added together to give an indication of the severity of your symptoms.


With the following questions, please select the rating that best represents your experience during the last month . Use the scale below to choose the most appropriate repsonse for each situation.  

It is important that you answer each question as best you can.

0  = Not at all

1  = Less than 1 in 5 times

= Less than half the time

3  = About half of the time

4 = More than half of the time

5 = Almost always

Total score: 0-7 Mildly symptomatic; 8-19 moderately symptomatic; 20-35 severely symptomatic

Adapted from Royal Bath Hospital IPSS NHS Foundation trusthttps://www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/Urology/documents/patient_leaflets/Form_IPSS.pdf accessed 10 April 2021