Sometimes the doctor will recommend a urine flow study. In this test, the patient urinates into a special device that measures how quickly the urine is flowing. A reduced flow often suggests an enlarged prostate.

 

In a cystoscopy, the doctor inserts a small tube through the opening of the urethra in the penis. This procedure is done after a solution numbs the inside of the penis so all sensation is lost. The tube, called a cystoscope, contains a lens and a light system, which help the doctor see the inside of the urethra and the bladder. This test allows the doctor to determine the size of the gland and identify the location and degree of the obstruction.