Lower urinary tract symptoms

Lower urinary tract symptoms is a generic term that is used to describe a number of different symptoms that can arise from abnormalities in the lower urinary tract. The lower urinary tract consists of the bladder, prostate and urethra.

Both men and woman can be affected by lower urinary tract symptoms, however, they are more common in men, and the risk increases further as you age. It is estimated that around 50% of men over the age of 50 will experience some form of lower urinary tract symptoms. Symptoms in older men are often linked to an enlarged prostate gland. This is known as benign prostate hyperplasia.

In women, lower urinary tract symptoms are most common after the age of 40, and can be linked to lower urinary tract infections (UTI). Symptoms can be different for every patient.

Common symptoms include:

Frequent urination
Urinating during the night
Sudden urge to urinate
Feeling like your bladder is never empty
Poor urine flow
Hesitation when trying to pass urine

If you are suffering from urinary tract symptoms, then it is important that you describe your symptoms to your GP. As these problems can be caused by a number of different conditions, it is important that they can ensure that you have the correct tests and a treatment plan arranged that will alleviate your symptoms.

Depending on the diagnosis you may need to consider lifestyle changes and medications (including avoiding caffeinated drinks, reducing intake after 8pm, etc) If these are unsuccessful, you may need to have a surgical procedure to correct the underlying conditions and reduce your symptoms.

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