Problem starting or maintaining a urine stream is called urinary hesitancy (other common names are Postponed urination; Hesitancy; Difficulty starting urination).
Urinary hesitancy is a term used to describe trouble starting or maintaining a normal urine stream. While anyone can experience urinary hesitancy, it’s often a symptom of benign prostatic hyperplasis or BPH. BPH is nonmalignant cell growth of the prostate gland. Most older men experience a minimum of some problems with urination that may consist of a weak urine stream. People with chronic and frequent urinary tract infections and those who struggle with particular neurological disorders might find it hard to begin a stream or fully empty the badder.
Weak Urine Flow Considerations
Urinary hesitancy impacts people of all ages and happens in both sexes. Nevertheless, it is most typical in older men with a bigger prostate gland.
Urinary hesitancy usually establishes slowly in time. You may not discover it till you are not able to urinate (called urinary retention). This causes swelling and discomfort in your bladder.
Causes of Male Urination Problems
The most typical cause of urinary hesitancy in older men is an enlarged prostate. Almost all older men have some trouble with dribbling, weak urine stream, and starting urination.
Another typical cause is infection of the prostate or urinary tract. Symptoms of a possible infection consist of:
- Burning or pain with urination
- Frequent urination
- Cloudy urine
- Sense of urgency (strong, unexpected urge to urinate).
The problem can also be triggered by:
- Some medicines (such as remedies for colds and allergic reactions, tricyclic antidepressants, some substance abuse for incontinence, and some vitamins and supplements).
- Nerve system conditions.
- Side effects of surgery.
- Scar tissue (stricture) in tube leading from the bladder.
Home Care When You Have Weak Urine Stream
Steps you can take to look after yourself consist of:
- Keep an eye on your urination patterns and bring the report to your health care service provider.
- Apply heat to your lower abdominal area (listed below your belly button and above the pubic bone). This is where the bladder sits. The heat relaxes muscles and helps urination.
- Massage or use light pressure over your bladder to help the bladder empty.
- Take a warm bath or shower to help stimulate urination.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your supplier if you observe urinary hesitancy, dribbling, or a weak urine stream.
Call your service provider immediately if:
- You have a fever, vomiting, side or back pain, shaking chills, or are passing little urine for 1 to 2 days.
- You have blood in your urine, cloudy urine, a regular or immediate need to urinate, or a discharge from the penis or vaginal area.
- You are not able to pass urine.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your service provider will take your medical history and do an exam to look at your pelvis, genitals, rectum, abdominal area, and lower back.
You might be asked concerns such as:
- How long have you had the issue and when did it begin?
- Is it even worse in the early morning or in the evening?
- Has the force of your urine flow decreased? Do you have dribbling or leaking urine?
- Does anything help or make the problem worse?
- Do you have symptoms of an infection?
- Have you had other medical conditions or surgeries that could impact your urine circulation?
What Medications Do You Take for Stronger Urine Stream?
Tests that may be performed include:
- Catheterization of the bladder to determine how much urine remains in your bladder after attempting to urinate and to obtain urine for culture (a catheterized urine specimen).
- Cystometrography.
- Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate.
- Urethral swab for culture.
- Urinalysis and culture.
- Voiding cystourethrogram.
Treatment for urinary hesitancy depends on the cause, and might include:
- Medicines to alleviate the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
- Antibiotics to treat any infection. Be sure to take all your medicines as directed.
- Surgery to ease a prostate blockage (TURP).
- Procedure to dilate or cut scar tissue in the urethra.
