Weak Urine Stream in Men – Causes of Urine Flow Problems

by Alex Shteynshlyuger MD


If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation or if you need a second opinion, please contact us or call: 646-663-4151


Weak Stream Causes and Symptoms in Males

Slow urinary stream in men is most often caused by obstruction of urinary flow from an enlarged prostate.  Inflammation of the prostate from infection can also cause a slowing of the urinary stream in men.

Other causes of low urine stream in men include urethral strictures as well as poor contractility or muscle weakness of the bladder wall.

An enlarged prostate is the most common cause of weak urinary stream in men over age 45.  The prostate impinges on the urethra and narrows down the urethral opening through which the urine needs to pass.  As a result, only weak and often irregular urine flow is produced even with straining.

Many men with weak pressure during urination also experience a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, urinary urgency, and frequent urination.  In addition, many men have an urge to wake up at night to urinate.

Other causes of irregular urination include prostate swelling, prostatitis, urethral strictures and bladder stones.

What You Need to Know About Low Urine Flow

Weak stream, need to push and the sensation of incomplete bladder emptying may be an indication of a serious problem such as urinary retention, urethral stricture or prostate cancer.  

Weak Urine Stream in Young Males

Young men often develop poor urine stream as a result of prostate inflammation or infection. Treatment of urethritis and prostatitis treatment can usually improve urine stream back to normal.

Treatment Options for Weak Urine Flow at New York Urology Specialists

Patients with weak urine flow need to have their urinary function evaluated. At New York Urology Specialists, we are equipped in our office to evaluate your bladder and prostate with pelvic ultrasound, measure your urine flow with a uroflow test, and measure whether your bladder empties completely with postvoid residual measurement.
These tests provide valuable information which guides our experienced urologists in treatment choices for your problem.

Cystoscopy offers a direct visual evaluation of the urethra and urinary bladder. Urodynamic testing can test the muscles of the urinary bladder to check if they are working well.

Patients with good bladder function that generates high pressure but low flow, usually have obstruction from urethral stricture or enlarged prostate. In this case, treatment with medications, office procedures or surgery to remove the obstruction is usually effective and provides significant relief of symptoms to men.

Commonly used medications for BPH are Rapaflo, Uroxatral and Flomax. Effective procedures that can unblock urethral obstruction from an enlarged prostate include Rezum procedure for BPH and Urolift. Other procedures such as iTind for BPH, and Aquablation BPH treatment are being studied. Bipolar TURP and HoLap for BPH are effective surgical treatment options for urinary retention and enlarged prostate.


If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation or if you need a second opinion, please contact us or call: 646-663-4151

We offer state-of-the-art Urological care for men and women with complex urological problems. We offer both surgical and non-surgical care in the office and hospital settings.   We see patients from all parts of New York City, other parts of the USA, Canada, South America and the Caribbean and other international patients.