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Published on: 5/21/2025

What Are the Visual Signs of a Weak Urine Stream?

Courtney Bloomer

Reviewed by Courtney Bloomer, DO

Emergency Medicine

A weak urine stream can look like a slow or dribbling flow of urine, which may also stop and start several times.

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Explanation

A weak urine stream can be noticed when the flow of urine is not strong or steady. This might appear as a slow stream that takes longer to empty the bladder.

Signs of a Weak Urine Stream:

  • Slow Flow: The urine comes out slowly, taking more time than usual.
  • Dribbling: The urine may dribble out instead of flowing smoothly.
  • Intermittent Flow: The stream might stop and start several times.

These signs can be linked to conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), where the prostate gland is enlarged, or bladder outlet obstruction. Both conditions can make it hard for urine to pass through the urethra, leading to a weak stream. Uroflowmetry, a test that measures the speed and volume of urine flow, is often used to assess these symptoms.

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