What Is The Treatment For Urinary Hesitancy
The treatment for urinary hesitancy will depend on your specific condition and whether you have any other diseases. Some treatment options include:
Urinary hesitancy can be uncomfortable and may lead to other problems. If you experience any symptoms of urinary hesitancy, talk with your doctor to decide the next steps.
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Why Might I Need Urine Flow Test
A urine flow test is a quick, simple test that gives useful feedback aboutthe health of the lower urinary tract. It is often used to see if there isblockage to normal urine outflow. Health conditions that can change normalurine flow include:
- Benign prostatic hypertrophy . This is enlargement of the prostate gland. It is not caused by cancer and often happens in men over age 50. The prostate wraps around the urethra. When it is enlarged, it can narrow the urethra and interfere with normal passage of urine from the bladder. If left untreated, the enlarged prostate can block the urethra completely.
- Cancer of the prostate or bladder
- Urinary blockage. A urinary tract blockage can happen for many reasons along any part of the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the urethra. It can lead to a urine backup. This can cause infection, scarring, or even kidney failure if untreated.
- Neurogenic bladder dysfunction. This is trouble with bladder function due to a nervous system problem, such as a spinal cord tumor or injury.
- Frequent urinary tract infections. These can cause scarring and damage in the urinary tract.
There may be other reasons for your healthcare provider to recommend aurine flow test.
What Causes Urinary Retention
Urinary retention can be caused by an obstruction in the urinary tract or by nerve problems that interfere with signals between the brain and the bladder. If the nerves arent working properly, the brain may not get the message that the bladder is full. Even if you know that your bladder is full, the bladder muscle that squeezes urine out may not get the signal that it is time to push, or the sphincter muscles may not get the signal that it is time to relax. A weak bladder muscle can also cause retention.
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What Is A Urine Flow Test
A urine flow test calculates the speed of urine flow over time. It may beused to check how the bladder and sphincter are working.
The bladder is part of the urinary tract. Its a hollow muscular organ thatrelaxes and expands to store urine. It then contracts and flattens to emptyurine through the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.
The sphincter muscle is a circular muscle. It closes tightly, like a rubberband, around the bladder opening. This helps keep urine from leaking.
For this test, you will urinate into a special funnel that is connected toa measuring device. The device calculates the amount of urine, rate of flowin seconds, and the length of time until all urine has been passed. Thisinformation helps evaluate how well the lower urinary tract is working. Italso helps figure out if there is a blockage of normal urine outflow.
During normal urination, the initial urine stream starts slowly. But itspeeds up until the bladder is nearly empty. The urine flow then slowsagain until the bladder is empty. In people with a urinary tract blockage,this pattern of flow is changed, and increases and decreases more slowly.The urine flow test graphs this information, taking into account yourgender and age.
What Can Cause Slow Urine Flow
A variety of medical conditions may affect normal urine flow. The most common cause of slow urine flow in men is having an enlarged prostate, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia . An enlarged prostate can press on the urethra, which is the tube through which urine travels from the bladder out of the body. If the urethra is compressed from the enlarged prostate, less urine can pass through, so the urine flow is slowed down. This is further exacerbated in people with diabetes that have diabetic neuropathy.
Other possible causes of slow urine flow are prostate or bladder cancer, blockage along any part of the urinary tract , neurogenic bladder dysfunction, frequent urinary tract infections , and any other conditions that cause scarring or damage to the urinary tract.
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When Should You Seek Help
You should seek medical help when you first notice a weak urine stream. In addition, if you seem to fit the symptoms when you research slow urine flow in females, you should seek help.
Even though most cases of a weak urinary stream can become less severe in time, seeking treatment can prevent other related issues.
Slow, inconsistent, and low-pressure urine are all examples of a weak urine stream. Therefore, if this applies to you, consider seeking a urinary incontinence treatment in Fort Lauderdale to help treat your problem.
What Are The Symptoms Of Nighttime Urination
Most people can get a full six to eight hours of rest without the need to urinate. However, nighttime urination causes you to get up several times at night to use the restroom. In its most severe forms, this condition causes you to get up five to six times at night.
Symptoms associated with nighttime urination include overproduction of urine, urinating too frequently, and feeling the urgent need to urinate but producing little urine.
Nighttime urination can cause problems. You cant feel rested when youre frequently using the restroom. Also, nighttime urination can increase the likelihood for falls and injury in the elderly.
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Mistake #: Not Drinking Enough Water
Many urinary complaints are related to poor hydration. Generally speaking, if your urine is clear or very light, that’s a sign you are drinking the right amount of water. If your urine is dark yellow or amber, that’s usually a sign of dehydration.
Odor, an “off” color, and the sense of burning while voiding are other signs that might indicate you are not properly hydrated. Not drinking enough water can contribute to UTIs and kidney stones. Concentrated urine can irritate the lining of the bladder, making it more sensitive. It is also more likely to form kidney or bladder stones.
Many patients ask if drinking alternative fluids will suffice, but many beverages contain high sugar concentrations or caffeine, which can have other health effects, says Dr. Brito, noting these might make overactive bladder symptoms worse. Water is the safest option to maintain hydration and keep your kidneys and bladder healthy.
There are some conditions that can make your urine appear more concentrated even if you are well-hydrated, such as liver problems or hematuria. So, if you are drinking enough water but have dark-colored urine, odor, or burning, its worth a trip to a urologist, who can evaluate your symptoms more closely.
“The ability to urinate freely and without difficulty is taken for granted by most people,” says Dr. Brito. So, next time you have to go, follow the above advice for better urinary health.
Alcohol And Weak Urinary Flow
Alcohol causes dilatation of the veins. The prostate and the bladder neck are widely surrounded by large veins draining the blood from those organs. The more the veins dilate, the less efficient the blood drainage from the prostate and the bladder neck is. It results in blood congestion, prostate swelling and contraction of the bladder and neck. Consequently, the urinary flow will be weak.
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What Causes Weak Urine Stream In Women
Your bladder is a versatile organ responsible for collecting and storing urine from the kidneys. This hollow, balloon-like tissue is elastic enough to stretch and contract as it stores and empties urine from your system. A weakened bladder doesnt properly retain urine.
This causes discrepancies, such as a weak urinary stream in females. If youre wondering why you have a weak urine stream, then the following information can help answer your question. In women, what is considered a weak urine stream, or a problem with slow urine flow, can be caused by a majority of reasons, all of which depend on factors such as age, environment, genetics, and health.
What Are The Symptoms Of Urinary Retention
The signs can vary. Some people with the chronic form have a hard time starting the flow of urine. Some have a weak flow once they start. Others may feel the need to go but cant start. Others have to go a lot, while others still feel the need to go right after going. You may leak urine when you arent going because the bladder is full.
With the acute form, youre all of a sudden not able to go at all, or only able to go very small amounts. This occurs even though you have a full bladder. See a healthcare provider right away if this happens to you.
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What Is Slow Urine Flow
Have you ever needed to go to the bathroom, but had only a weak stream of urine comes out? Have you ever been unable to pee when you tried? If so, you may have experienced a slow urine flow.
Slow urine flow, or a weak urine stream, can occur in people of both sexes. It most commonly occurs in men, especially those over 50 years old. Otherwise known as urinary hesitancy, this condition usually develops slowly over time, and may be unnoticeable until it ultimately leads to urinary retention, or an inability to pee. This may lead to discomfort.
Weak Urine Stream Men
A weak urine stream majorly means difficulty in getting a urine flow. This generally occurs in older men due to an enlarged prostate. They can have problems with dribbling, starting urinating and a slow or weak urine stream. Infection in the urinary tract or prostate could also lead to weak urine stream in men.
Urinary problems are also known as urinary hesitancy. This is a disorder which can affect both men and woman. Most of the time, people do not notice their symptoms until the problem gets severe. Delay in diagnosis often results in complete inability to pee known as urinary retention.
There is slowing of urine stream, pain and burning sensation felt while urinating and discomfort in the muscles of the lower abdomen. This also leads to loss of sexual activity. However, the problem is not serious and can be diagnosed and treated easily.
The reasons for a weak urine stream in males can be either of the below mentioned diseases:
Some other causes of weak urine stream can be bladder stones and overactive bladder syndrome.
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Mistake : Going Too Often
One more trip to the bathroom before rushing out the door may seem like smart planning, but it can backfire. The danger is that you can end up training the bladder to respond to small volumes, which can lead to overactive bladder symptomsthe sensation of needing to urinate more frequently than is normal, explains Dr. Rickey.
Going too often at night can also be a problem for men who then cant fall back to sleep, says Stanton Honig, MD, director of Male Urology, adding that this condition, called nocturia, can affect quality of life. If this is bothersome to patients, there are treatment for it, says Dr. Honig.
Other problems can also cause increased urinary frequency, such as an infection along the urinary tract. Therefore, if you find that you need to visit the bathroom far more often than you used to, talk to your primary care physician or urologist. You may need a urinalysis to rule out a UTI, as well as to check for blood in the urine , which can happen to a small number of people with an overactive bladder who have a bladder tumor, Dr. Brito says. Blood in the urine is never normal and usually requires further testing to determine its cause, Dr. Brito says.
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
The lower urinary tract includes the bladder and the tube that urine passes through as it leaves the body .
Lower urinary tract symptoms are common as people get older.
They can include:
- problems with storing urine, such as an urgent or frequent need to pass urine or feeling like you need to go again straight after you’ve just been
- problems with passing urine, such as a slow stream of urine, straining to pass urine, or stopping and starting as you pass urine
- problems after you’ve passed urine, such as feeling that you’ve not completely emptied your bladder or passing a few drops of urine after you think you’ve finished
Experiencing LUTS can make urinary incontinence more likely.
Page last reviewed: 07 November 2019 Next review due: 07 November 2022
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Problems With Enlarged Prostate Gland
Benign enlargement of the prostate gland is more common as men get older. It can cause troublesome symptoms, although it doesnt always.
The urethra passes through the prostate gland, so men may have problems urinating if the enlarged gland restricts the flow of urine. If the flow stops completely, a catheter is required to empty the bladder. It is rare for this form of acute urinary retention to cause kidney damage.
An enlarged prostate doesn’t always cause urinary problems. Studies indicate that the size of a man’s prostate gland has little influence on the type or severity of his urination problems. BPH is just one possible cause of urinary symptoms.
Another cause of urinary symptoms can be changes to the muscular wall of the bladder, which may cause spasms of the bladder or weaken the bladder, causing problems passing urine.
What Should You Do If You Have Slow Urine Flow
If you experience urinary hesitancy or a slow flow of urine, it is important to see a urologist. Your doctor can help you figure out why you have slow urine stream and can work with you to resolve your urinary problems.
To better understand and help you with your condition, your urologist may do a physical exam, urine tests , and a urine flow test.
A urine flow test calculates the speed of your urine flow over time. This will help you and your urologist understand how well your lower urinary tract is working, and to determine if there is a urine blockage. This test entails peeing into a funnel that has a measuring instrument, which calculates the amount of urine, the rate of urine flow, and the amount of time until you have finished urinating.
After examination and any tests needed, your urologist may help you identify medications or lifestyle changes that can help with your urinary flow.
If you think you might be experiencing slow urine flow, contact us today to with the best NYC urologist.
For more information, please visit our website: www.UrocenterofNewYork.com
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Weak Urine Flow Along With Other Symptoms
Weak urinary flow may come not alone. It may occur along with painful urination and burning sensation in case of UTI.
When weak urine flow comes with frequent urination, it is a sign of lower urinary tract obstruction like prostate enlargement or urethral stricture. In these cases, there may also be poor ejaculation.
If a stone gets stuck in the urethra, the urine flow will be in scattered and possibly painful drops.
Fever and poor urine stream are always an urgency and sometimes a real emergency.
Adverse Effects Of Weak Urinary Stream In Females
Common negative effects of slow urine flow in females include:
- Limitation and restriction in the physical activities one can carry out
- Balance and stability issues, which increase the chance of falling over
- Always rushing to a bathroom to relieve yourself
- Risk of embarrassment in public situations
- Withdrawal from fun and engaging social activities
- Low confidence in the presence of friends and family
- Constant anxiety
In most cases, a weak urine stream in women can significantly impact their physiological state. Aside from the discomfort related to the condition, dealing with a slow urine flow can be awkward.
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How Is Chronic Urinary Retention Diagnosed
History and physical exam: During the diagnosis process, your healthcare provider will ask about your signs and symptoms and how long you have had them. He or she will also ask about your medical history and your drug use. A physical exam of the lower abdomen may show the cause or give your provider additional clues. After this, certain tests may be needed. Men may have a rectal exam to check the size of their prostate.
Your urine may be saved and checked to look for infection.
Ultrasound of the bladder: The amount of urine that stays in your bladder after urinating may be measured by doing an ultrasound test of the bladder. This test is called a postvoid residual or bladder scan.
Cystoscopy: Cystoscopy is a test in which a thin tube with a tiny camera on one end is put into your urethra. This lets the doctor look at pictures of the lining of your urethra and bladder. This test may show a stricture of the urethra, blockage caused by a stone, an enlarged prostate or a tumor. It can also be used to remove stones, if found. A computed tomography scan may also help find stones or anything else blocking the flow of urine.
Urodynamic testing: Tests that use a catheter to record pressure within the bladder may be done to tell how well the bladder empties. The rate at which urine flows can also be measured by such tests. This is called urodynamic testing.