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Urination - difficulty with flow

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Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Female urinary tract
Female urinary tract
Male urinary tract
Male urinary tract

Alternative names    Return to top

Delayed urination; Hesitancy; Difficulty initiating urination

Definition    Return to top

Difficulty starting or maintaining a urinary stream is called urinary hesitancy.

Considerations    Return to top

This problem affects people of all ages and occurs in both sexes, but it is most common in older men with enlarged prostate glands.

Urinary hesitancy usually comes on gradually. It sometimes goes unnoticed until urinary retention (complete inability to urinate) produces distention and discomfort in the bladder.

Almost all older men have some degree of difficulty in starting urination, dribbling, or decreased force of the urinary stream.

Common Causes    Return to top

Urinary hesitancy can be caused by:

Home Care    Return to top

Call your health care provider if    Return to top

If you have not been evaluated for this problem previously, you should call your doctor for urinary hesitancy, dribbling, or weak urine stream.

Call your doctor right away if you have fever, vomiting, side or back pain, shaking chills, or passing little urine for 1-2 days.

Call if you have blood in your urine, cloudy urine, frequent or urgent need to urinate, or a discharge from the penis or vagina.

What to expect at your health care provider's office    Return to top

Your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination, paying special attention to your pelvis, rectum, abdomen, and lower back.

Medical history questions may include:

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Treatment of urinary hesitancy varies depending on the underlying cause. If a bacterial infection is present, antibiotics may be prescribed. A surgical procedure may be required to relieve prostate obstruction (see TURP).

Update Date: 10/21/2003

Updated by: Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston, Ma., and Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by David R. Knowles M.D., Department of Urology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia Campus, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (11/05/2001).

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