To understand the health of your kidneys and prostate gland, you may be asked to give a urine sample and do blood tests. Some people may need to get a scan of their kidneys and bladder. To check for the causes of your lower urinary tract symptoms, your healthcare provider might have you do:

• Urinalysis. A test that checks a sample of your urine for things like infection, blood, or other things that could be causing problems.
• Blood tests:
  • Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and creatinine. These blood tests help your healthcare team check how well your kidneys are working. GFR measures how much blood your kidneys filter every minute. Creatinine levels show if your kidneys are filtering waste as they should.
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This blood test measures the level of PSA, which is produced by your prostate gland. If your PSA levels are high, it might mean you have an enlarged or inflamed prostate or prostate cancer. Your healthcare team may recommend this test if they think prostate problems are contributing to your symptoms.
• Kidney and bladder ultrasound. Not everyone will need an ultrasound. Your healthcare team may recommend this test to check for problems that could be affecting your urinary system. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of your kidneys and bladder.

It is important to talk with your healthcare team about what tests are right for you based on your age, symptoms, and treatment plans.