What Our Urologist Says About Urinary Flow Problems
According to Dr. Gordon O'Neill, a seasoned urologist with over 25 years of experience:
5 Tips to Improve Weak Urine Flow in Men
By Mosh6 min read
Experiencing a weak urine flow can be both uncomfortable and concerning. For many men, issues with the urinary tract, bladder, or prostate gland can lead to difficulties in urination, including urinary hesitancy, urinary retention, and a slow urine stream [1]. Understanding the causes of weak urine flow in men and learning how to address them is crucial for maintaining good health.
Over 40% of men in their 50s and over 70% of men in their 60s experience urinary problems related to an enlarged prostate gland [2], a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This common medical condition can lead to a range of lower urinary tract symptoms, including difficulty urinating, a weak urine stream, and the urgent need to urinate [2].
If you're facing issues like a weak urine flow, don't ignore them. Left untreated, these problems can lead to more serious complications, such as urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and even kidney damage [3]. Take the Mosh’s free prostate enlarged assessment.
Below are five tips to help improve your urine flow in men and alleviate urinary symptoms.
"BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition which affects most men as they age. It involves the slow enlargement of the prostate in a benign or non-cancerous way. As the prostate grows, it grows outwards and inwards and blocks the tube coming out from the bladder, and it produces symptoms in some men."
He further explains the symptoms:
"BPH symptoms mainly come in the obstructive symptoms such as poor flow, difficulty getting started, stop-start, dribbling towards the end, not knowing when you've finished, and the feeling of not emptying your bladder properly."
Dr. O'Neill emphasises the importance of recognising these symptoms:
"It's important to know that not everybody with BPH has symptoms. However, some patients get problems with their enlarged prostate, and they come in two main forms: the obstructive symptoms and the frequency and urgency symptoms. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to get a prostate check."
If you're experiencing urinary issues, it's important to understand the difference between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as both can impact your prostate health.
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5 Ways to Improve Weak Urine Flow
1. Exercise Regularly to Enhance Urinary Flow
Engaging in physical activities like jogging, swimming, or yoga [4] can help reduce stress, maintain a healthy weight, and improve urinary flow [5]. Regular exercise benefits the lower urinary tract and can alleviate symptoms of a slow urine stream.
Dr. O'Neill notes:
"We think that having a lot of fatty foods as you grow up—the Western diet—seems to be one of the risk factors for it. Also, obesity and lack of exercise."
By staying active, you can reduce the risk factors that contribute to BPH and associated urinary problems [6]. However, once you have an enlarged prostate, exercise won’t be able to reverse it but it might help you urinate easier [6].
2. Perform Kegel Exercises to Strengthen Bladder Control
Pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role in controlling the flow of urine. Strengthening these muscles through Kegel exercises can improve your ability to urinate effectively and reduce urinary hesitancy [7].
To perform Kegel exercises [8]:
- Identify the muscles you use to stop urinating.
- Tighten these muscles for ten seconds.
- Relax for three seconds.
- Repeat this process multiple times a day.
3. Empty Your Bladder Fully and Frequently
Make it a habit to empty your bladder regularly, at least once every 3 to 4 hours [9].
Holding urine doesn’t make your bladder stronger, in fact it can weaken your bladder muscles and make a bladder infection more likely [9].
“Often as men get older, they will not completely empty their bladder. The problem there is, if your bladder's full and you empty it halfway and then drink fluids like you normally would, it fills up more quickly,” says Yale Medicine urologist Joseph Brito, MD [10].
After urinating, try to go again a few moments later to ensure you've fully emptied the bladder. This practice can help reduce the feeling of incomplete emptying and improve your overall urine flow.
4. Limit Bladder Irritants to Reduce Urinary Symptoms
Certain drinks and foods can stimulate the bladder and exacerbate urinary urgency [11]. Limiting or avoiding caffeine and alcohol can help improve your urinary stream and reduce the urgent need to urinate.
Whilst on a treatment plan, it is advised to limit or avoid food and drink that could stimulate the bladder. This helps in managing the symptoms of urinary hesitancy and improves the flow of urine.
5. Avoid Medications That Affect Urination
Some over-the-counter medications, like antihistamines and decongestants, can tighten the muscles around the urethra, making it harder to urinate [12].
According to the Urological Research Foundation [13],
“Anything that weakens the bladder’s ability to contract or increases the resistance to flow out of the bladder makes it more difficult—and sometimes impossible—to empty the bladder.”
If you are feeling under the weather, the Foundation recommends trying alternative remedies. You can also learn more about alternative options by reading our post about the best natural remedies for BPH symptoms.
“Vapor rubs using topical preparations containing camphor, menthol, eucalyptus and other aromatic oils may be applied to the neck and chest at bedtime or vaporised in a machine during sleeping hours.”
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Understanding Urinary Hesitancy and Its Causes
Urinary hesitancy is the difficulty in starting or maintaining a urine stream. It can be caused by various factors, but the most common cause of urinary hesitancy in older men is an enlarged prostate gland due to BPH.
Dr. O'Neill explains:
"The obstructive symptoms: reduced stream, difficulty getting started, stop and start, dribbling towards the end, not sure when you're finished, having to go back again soon afterwards, feeling of incomplete emptying, or sometimes not being able to pass urine at all."
Possible Causes of Urinary Hesitancy [14]
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Enlargement of the prostate gland that puts pressure on the urethra.
- Urinary Tract Infections: Infections that cause swelling and discomfort.
- Urethral Strictures: Narrowing of the urethra due to scarring.
- Neurological Disorders: Conditions that affect nerve signals between the brain and bladder.
Urinary hesitancy may lead to urinary retention, which is the inability to pass urine. This can result in serious complications if not addressed promptly [14].
When to See a Urologist
If you're experiencing any of the following urinary symptoms, it's important to consult a healthcare professional:
- Difficulty starting or maintaining a urine stream
- Weak urine flow or slow urine stream
- Urgent need to urinate but only passing a small amount
- Blood in the urine or cloudy urine
- Inability to pass urine (acute urinary retention)
Early diagnosis can help identify the cause of urinary issues and lead to effective treatment options.
Lifestyle Changes to Improve Urine Flow
Consider the following lifestyle changes to help address the cause of urinary hesitancy as a result of BPH which affects men [15]:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to flush out the urinary tract.
- Healthy Diet: Incorporate fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to improve overall health.
- Avoid Smoking: Smoking can irritate the bladder and exacerbate urinary problems.
- Manage Stress: Stress can affect urination, so practices like meditation can help.
Dr. O'Neill advises:
"We consider sleeping through or getting up once to be quite normal, but any more than two times at night is an abnormal symptom and that can be looked into."
Take Control of Your Urinary Health with Mosh
At Mosh, we make it simple for you to take charge of your urinary health. It all starts with a quick quiz to assess your symptom score. Your Mosh health practitioner will give you a comprehensive assessment online or over the telephone. If deemed appropriate, they can also refer you to a local urology specialist—all from the comfort of your home.
Dr. O'Neill encourages:
"How do you know if you have an enlarged prostate? You don't always. But many men with an enlarged prostate will have symptoms. And it's those symptoms that you have—whether it's poor flow or frequency and urgency, if you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to get a prostate check"
Visit Mosh to speak to a health practitioner and get your free prostate health assessment today. Alternatively, if you wish to learn more first go to our ultimate guide about enlarged prostate to further understand it.
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15 References
1. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-video-enlarged-prostate.html2. https://www.sturology.com.au/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-bph/#:~:text=Benign%20Prostatic%20Hyperplasia%2C%20or%20BPH,their%2060s%20have%20BPH13. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/prostate-problems/prostate-enlargement-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia4. https://www.webmd.com/men/urinating-and-bph5. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240119/Can-yoga-improve-your-prostate-health.aspx6. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/exercise-and-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-bph-201104261561#:~:text=Researchers%20found%20an%20inverse%20relationship,a%20moderate%20pace%2C%20yielded%20benefits7. https://www.mintstl.com/blog/kegel-exercises-to-improve-enlarged-prostate-symptoms8. https://www.webmd.com/men/best-exercises-erectile-dysfunction-premature-ejaculation9. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/bladder-health-and-incontinence/15-tips-keep-your-bladder-healthy10. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/5-ways-to-pee-better11. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia/expert-answers/enlarged-prostate-and-diet/faq-2032277312. https://www.webmd.com/men/urinating-and-bph13. https://drcatalona.com/quest/antihistamines-and-decongestants-can-worsen-symptoms-of-benign-prostate-disease/#:~:text=Decongestants%20increase%20the%20resistance%20to,ability%20to%20expel%20the%20urine14. https://www.healthline.com/health/urination-difficulty-with-flow15. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370093
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