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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:

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.

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