Uroflowmetry. Your doctor may decide to measure the speed of your urinary stream and the amount of urine you pass. This is accomplished as you urinate into an electronic machine (while you’re alone in a testing room). To ensure an accurate result, it’s important that you urinate at least five or six ounces. This test will identify men whose maximum flow rate is not markedly diminished—and who may not benefit from treatment. The normal peak urinary flow rate is fifteen cubic centiliters or more per second.

Residual Urine Measurement. This determines whether you’re emptying your bladder completely—and if not, how much urine you’re leaving behind. This can be done by an ultrasound examination of the lower abdomen, performed immediately after urination, or by passing a small catheter into the bladder and measuring the amount directly. If it turns out that you do indeed have large amounts of residual urine, watchful waiting (see Chapter 10) may not be a good treatment option for you. These measurements may also be a helpful way to follow the course of your disease and bring to light any change in obstruction.

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