Doctor, I cannot pass urine to the last drop

Dr Flo,

Thank you for your priceless advice. I am a 57-year-old retiree and my problem is that whenever I visit a urinal, even as I make sure to empty every drop, while zipping up some drops come from nowhere and wet my pants. As a result, I end up stinking like a pig.

Do I have a problem?

Nathaniel

Nathaniel, what you are experiencing is called post-void or post-micturition dribbling, or after-dribbling. If it’s only a few drops for one or two minutes, then it is normal. If it goes on for longer than that, or if the amount is more than just a few drops, then it is a problem. It usually occurs when the muscles around the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder) do not contract properly, and therefore the urethra does not completely empty. This can also cause the bladder not to empty fully.

There are several issues that may be associated with after-dribbling; including diseases of the prostate, urinary tract problems, some medications, and nerve problems.

If you have any additional problems — like problem initiating urination, pain or burning sensation when passing urine, blood in urine, frequent urination, feeling like the bladder is not fully emptied, straining to pass urine, urine passing out slowly, or feeling the need to urgently pass urine — then you need a prostate check with the doctor.

For now, there are several things you can do to help the situation:

•  Sit down on the toilet seat when passing urine

•  Take your time, and don’t be in a hurry to complete urination

•  Pull down your trousers and underwear properly

•  Push gently on the scrotum upwards and forwards to encourage the flow of urine along the urethra

•  Press on the perineum (the area just behind the scrotum) to help remove any remaining urine from the urethra once you are done

•  Do Kegel’s exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles. To identify these, try to stop the flow of urine by clenching your muscles when you are halfway through passing urine. The muscles that you need to do that are the pelvic floor muscles. You need to repeatedly contract and relax these muscles for several minutes, multiple times a day.

All the best.