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Urination Problems
 
What are urination problems?
Urine carries waste from the kidneys. It is stored in the bladder until passed from the body through a tube called the urethra. Common problems passing urine include frequent, urgent, painful, difficult, or uncontrolled urination.

Frequent
Urinating frequently may be caused by:
  • drinking more fluids than usual
  • being anxious, nervous, or excited
  • side effects of medicines, alcohol, and caffeine
  • pregnancy
  • diabetes
  • infection or inflammation in the prostate gland, vagina, bladder, or urethra
  • a bladder tumor or stone.

Urgent
Urgency is a sudden strong need to empty your bladder right away. Your body may only give you seconds to a minute to reach the toilet. Urgency may cause loss of the ability to control urine, especially in older adults.

Painful
You may feel burning or scalding and pain in the lower abdomen or urinary tract when you urinate. This may make you urinate less or less often because of the pain.

Difficult
Difficult urination means that you have problems urinating, even though you have the urge to go. Symptoms include:
  • a decreased urine stream that takes longer than usual to empty the bladder
  • a urine flow that stops and starts over and over again
  • inability to urinate.

When you cannot empty your bladder at all, even though you have an urge to urinate, it is called urinary retention. Contact your health care provider right away.

Uncontrolled
When you cannot control urination, it is called incontinence. Symptoms include:
  • urine leaking during a sneeze, laugh, lifting, or when you bend over
  • not reaching a toilet in time once the urge to urinate is felt
  • continuing to dribble urine after finished urinating
  • constant leakage of urine.

How can I take care of myself?
Alcohol, caffeinated drinks, citrus juices, and spicy foods can irritate the bladder and make your symptoms worse. Drink plenty of liquid, especially water.

See your health care provider if you have problems urinating that do not get better within a day or two. Treatment depends on what is causing the problem.




  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

  HIA File SYM5074F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.


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