A group representing Australian general practitioners says the risks of being screened for prostate cancer outweigh the benefits.

In its latest book of preventative health guidelines, the Royal Australian College for GPs advises its members not to recommend prostate cancer screening to patients.

Professor Chris Del Mar from Bond University on the Gold Coast says the process is invasive and can lead to health problems.

"To find out whether you've got it involves an involved diagnostic procedures, a biopsy done through the rectum into the prostate," Professor Del Mar said.

While there's a 50 per cent chance men over the age of 60 will have the disease, Professor Del Mar says prostate cancer is entirely benign in most cases.

Professor Del Mar says if he had the disease, he would not want to know.