Weak urine flow Weakened urinary stream

This is one of the most frequent urinary complaints, often associated with a feeling of incomplete emptying (ie, the perception that urine persists in the bladder after urination).

The urinary stream may be weakened due to obstruction of the urinary tract (in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia, stenosis of the urethra or prolapse of pelvic organs) or hypoactive bladder (bladder that does not contract properly, not exerting the pressure necessary for a jet normal). In some cases, still, both mechanisms may coexist.

Although the symptom itself is not always bothersome, it is often accompanied by a sensation of difficult urination (with abdominal effort), pain during urination or increased urinary frequency resulting from bad emptying of the bladder.

When there is high post-voiding residue (urine persistence in the bladder after voiding) there is also an increased risk of frequent urinary infections, which are often the main complaint of the patient.

The diagnosis is made through clinical history, objective examination and uroflowmetry with the measurement of post-voiding residue.

Treatment is usually aimed at improving bladder emptying with rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles (when there is dysfunction of the respective muscles), drugs (for example, in benign prostatic hyperplasia) or surgery (prostate resection, correction of stenosis of the prostate) urethra or pelvic organ prolapse in women, among others).