How can I self-identify if I have prostate enlargement? Generally speaking, although the size of the prostate can be detected by rectal palpation or by ultrasound, this process needs to be done by a specialist and the size of the prostate may not always correlate exactly with the symptoms. The need for treatment of prostate enlargement needs to be related to the patient’s own symptoms. There is an international scale called the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), which allows you to score yourself against the scale and determine whether you have symptoms of prostate enlargement and their severity based on a certain score. This scale can also be used as an indicator of the efficacy of treatment.