When to see your doctor
You should make an appointment to see your doctor if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- I feel that I cannot fully empty my bladder
- I need to get out of bed at night to pass urine
- I leak urine during my sleep
- Urine comes out in a weak stream
- I often suffer from urinary tract infections
- I need to pass urine more frequently than I used to
- I feel an urge to pass even small amounts of urine
- I feel an urge to pass even small amounts of urine and sometimes I do not make it to the toilet
- I leak urine when I am physically active, laugh or sneeze
These symptoms can be caused by many different medical conditions and may be treated accordingly.
Bladder problems can - whether you’re unable to empty your bladder or to hold urine in the bladder (leaks) - have a significant impact on your health and quality of life.
These issues are not something you ‘just need to get used to’. People who experience bladder problems are often hesitant to do something about it, because they find it embarrassing to talk about or simply consider it a sign of ageing.
"Over 20% of people over the age of 40 experience some kind of urinary disorder."
The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women in four centres. The UrEpik study P. Boyle1, C. Robertson1, C. Mazzetta1, M. Keech2, F.D.R. Hobbs3, R. Fourcade4, L. Kiemeney5, C. Lee6 and the UrEpik Study Group1
