Prostate Health: Symptoms, Screening and Prevention

In short: The prostate is a small gland that commonly enlarges with age, which can cause urinary symptoms such as a weak flow or getting up at night to pass urine. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. There is no routine prostate cancer screening for all men in the UK, but men aged 50 and over can ask their GP about a PSA blood test after discussing its pros and cons. In 2026 the government accepted a UK National Screening Committee recommendation for targeted screening of a small high-risk group (men with a BRCA2 gene variant and a relevant family history), expected to begin in England in 2027.

This guide, written by a Ready Health prescribing pharmacist, covers the common prostate conditions, symptoms to look out for, what the evidence says about diet and lifestyle, and the current UK position on PSA testing and screening.

What does the prostate do?

The prostate is a gland about the size of a walnut that sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. It produces some of the fluid in semen. Because it wraps around the urethra, changes in the prostate can affect how you pass urine.

What are the common prostate problems?

What are the warning signs of prostate problems?

See your GP if you notice:

• needing to pass urine more often, especially at night
• a sudden urge to go, or difficulty starting
• a weak flow, straining, or dribbling after you finish
• feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
• blood in your urine or semen
• pain when passing urine or ejaculating
• erection problems
• unexplained back, hip or pelvic pain, or weight loss

Urinary symptoms are much more often caused by benign enlargement than by cancer, but they should still be checked. Get urgent help (NHS 111 or A&E) if you cannot pass urine at all, or you have a high temperature with pain passing urine.

Who is at higher risk of prostate cancer?

• Age: risk rises with age, particularly from 50.
• Ethnicity: Black men are at higher risk than other men.
• Family history: a father or brother with prostate cancer, or close relatives with breast or ovarian cancer.
• Inherited gene variants such as BRCA2.

Prostate Cancer UK and NHS guidance suggest that men at higher risk may wish to talk to their GP about PSA testing from age 45.

Is there prostate cancer screening in the UK?

There is currently no national screening programme for all men. The PSA blood test is not accurate enough on its own: a raised PSA can be caused by an enlarged prostate, infection, recent ejaculation or vigorous exercise, and screening the whole population would lead to many men being diagnosed and treated for slow-growing cancers that would never have harmed them.

The current position is:

• Informed choice: men aged 50 and over who do not have symptoms can ask their GP for a PSA test after discussing the possible benefits and harms.
• Targeted screening: in May 2026 the UK National Screening Committee recommended screening for men with a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer, with a PSA test every two years from age 45 to 61. It did not recommend screening for all men, for Black men, or for men with a family history alone, because the evidence of benefit was not yet clear. The government accepted the recommendation in June 2026, and the programme is expected to start in England in 2027.
• Research: the large UK TRANSFORM trial is testing new ways of screening, with an expanded focus on Black men.

If a PSA test is raised, the usual next step is an MRI scan of the prostate, and a biopsy only if needed.

Can diet and lifestyle help prostate health?

No food or supplement has been proven to prevent prostate cancer. However, a healthy lifestyle supports overall health and may lower the risk of more aggressive disease:

• keep to a healthy weight, as obesity is linked with a higher risk of advanced prostate cancer
• be physically active
• eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, pulses and wholegrains, and limit processed and red meat
• stop smoking and keep alcohol within 14 units a week

Do not take high-dose supplements for prostate health without advice. In one large trial, vitamin E supplements were linked with a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer.

For urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, it can help to cut down on caffeine and alcohol, avoid drinking a lot in the evening, and try bladder training, while still drinking enough during the day.

Prostate health checks in Wigan and Standish

Ready Health in Standish, near Wigan, offers men's health appointments and private blood tests, including PSA testing after a discussion with a clinician. We will talk through your symptoms, risk factors and the pros and cons of testing, explain results clearly, and advise referral through your NHS GP where further investigation is needed. A raised PSA or worrying symptoms will always be followed up appropriately.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should men get their prostate checked?

Men aged 50 and over can ask about a PSA test. Men at higher risk, such as Black men and those with a strong family history, may wish to discuss it from 45. Anyone with symptoms should see a GP at any age.

Is a PSA test a reliable test for prostate cancer?

Not on its own. PSA can be raised without cancer, and some cancers do not raise PSA. It is one part of an assessment that may include an examination and an MRI scan.

Does an enlarged prostate mean cancer?

No. Benign prostate enlargement is very common with age and is not cancer, although both can cause similar urinary symptoms, so it is important to get checked.

Who will be offered targeted prostate screening?

Under the 2026 recommendation, men with a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer will be offered a PSA test every two years between 45 and 61. Rollout in England is expected from 2027.

Key takeaways

• Urinary symptoms are common with age and are usually due to benign enlargement, but should be checked.
• Early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms.
• There is no screening for all men; men 50 and over can request a PSA test after an informed discussion.
• Targeted screening for men with a BRCA2 variant and relevant family history is expected to start in England in 2027.
• No diet or supplement prevents prostate cancer, but staying active and a healthy weight helps overall health.

Sources and further reading

• NHS: Prostate cancer
• NHS: Benign prostate enlargement
• NHS: PSA test
• Cancer Research UK: UK NSC recommends targeted prostate cancer screening (May 2026)

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Shamir Patel, Independent Prescribing Pharmacist, Ready Health. This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own clinician.

If you have urinary symptoms or would like to discuss PSA blood testing, book a men's health appointment at Ready Health in Standish.