Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Seek urgent or emergency care for:
A complete inability to urinate
Severe lower abdominal pain with a full-bladder sensation
Fever or chills with significant urinary symptoms or feeling seriously unwell
Heavy blood in the urine, especially with clots or difficulty passing urine
These symptoms do not automatically mean that BPH is the cause, but they require timely assessment.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Contact a clinician promptly for pain with urination, visible blood in the urine, repeated infections, fever, or increasing difficulty emptying the bladder.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Routine follow-up is used to check whether symptoms are stable, improving, or interfering more with daily life.
The clinician may repeat a symptom score, review side effects, assess urine flow, or measure the urine left in the bladder.
People taking a five-alpha-reductase inhibitor may need PSA results interpreted differently because the medicine lowers PSA.
Arrange a routine medical visit if urinary symptoms are new, gradually worsening, disturbing sleep, causing leakage, or affecting work and activities.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Benign prostatic hyperplasia. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.