Management of lower urinary tract symptoms in men

This clinical update, written for the non-urologist, aims to highlight the important concepts behind understanding and treating men with uncomplicated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). In the last five years there have bee n important changes in the Preferred terminology and guidelines for managin g men with voiding symptoms. lit particular, the assessment of a patient's degree of bother is the most important factor when making management decisi ons for men with uncomplicated LUTS. Although this clinical update does not attempt to address the management of prostate cancer it does include some brief guidelines on Prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing. The following information is based on the NH&MRC Clinical Practice Guidelines, published 1996 [1]. It is acknowledged that opinion remains divided among urologists concerning some of these guidelines.