Urination - difficulty with flow

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Overview

Treatment

Urination - difficulty with flow

Definition:

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

Alternative Names:

Delayed urination; Hesitancy; Difficulty initiating urination

Considerations:

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:

Urinary hesitancy can be caused by:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)
Urinary tract infection, especially if chronic and recurrent
Prostatitis (inflammation or infection of the prostate gland)
Drugs (some cold remedies, some nasal decongestants, tricyclic antidepressants, and anticholinergics which may be used for incontinence)
Shy or bashful bladder syndrome in younger people (unable to urinate when another person is in the room)
Neurologic disorders

References:

Bass PF. Urinary tract infections. Prim Care. 2003; 30(1): 41-61, v-vi.

Hua VN. Acute and chronic prostatitis. Med Clin North Am. 2004; 88(2): 483-494.

Review Date: 8/4/2005
Reviewed By: David R. Knowles M.D., Scottsdale Urologic Surgeons, Scottsdale, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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