Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) refer to a group of symptoms related to problems with storing or voiding urine. These are common, especially in older adults, and can significantly affect quality of life. LUTS can affect both men and women, though the underlying causes may differ between the sexes.

Types of LUTS

LUTS are generally divided into three categories:

1. Storage Symptoms (related to bladder filling)
   • Increased daytime frequency – urinating more often than normal during the day.
   • Nocturia – waking at night one or more times to urinate.
   • Urgency – sudden, compelling urge to urinate.
   • Urge incontinence – involuntary leakage of urine following urgency.
2. Voiding Symptoms (related to urine flow)
   • Hesitancy – difficulty starting urination.
   • Intermittency – starting and stopping during urination.
   • Weak stream – decreased force of urine stream.
   • Straining – needing to push to start or maintain urination.
   • Terminal dribble – trickling at the end of urination.
3. Post-Micturition Symptoms
   • Feeling of incomplete emptying – sensation that the bladder isn’t fully emptied.
   • Post-micturition dribble – leakage of urine shortly after finishing.

Causes of LUTS