Difficulty Urinating
Check your symptoms and
find possible causes with AI for free
Reviewed By:
Nao Saito, MD (Urology)
After graduating from Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Dr. Saito worked at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Toda Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, and Ako Chuo Hospital before becoming Deputy Director (current position) at Takasaki Tower Clinic Department of Ophthalmology and Urology in April 2020.
Please choose the symptom you are most concerned about.
It will help us optimise further questions for you.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Find another symptom
How Ubie can help you
With an easy 3-min questionnaire, Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Personalized Report
✔︎ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
Feels like have to urinate but can’t
Long time to pass urine
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Learn More
Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
About the symptom
Difficulty urinating describes the need to strain or exert in order to pass urine.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Need to strain/exert to pass urine
Possible causes
- Overactive bladder
This is a group of urinary symptoms that causes patients to need to urinate often, or have sudden urges to urinate that is difficult to control. This is a result of excessive bladder contractions.
- Diabetic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occurs in those with long-term diabetes. High blood sugar can damage nerves throughout the body, most commonly in the legs and feet.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. Age-related changes in male hormone levels are thought to be the cause.
- Pollakiuria
- Uterine fibroids
- Cystitis
- Neurogenic bladder
- Prostate cancer
Related serious diseases
- Urethritis
Bacterial infection of the urethra (tube from which urine exits the body). It is can be caused by sexually transmitted diseases like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia infections.
- Acute prostatitis
Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom
Do you have difficulty passing urine?
Do you have difficulty completely emptying your bladder?
Do you have urine accidents (cannot hold in urine)?
Do you have problems waking up frequently to pass urine at night?
Do you feel pain when passing urine?
Other Related Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from the same body system / part
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Reviewed By:
Nao Saito, MD (Urology)
After graduating from Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Dr. Saito worked at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Toda Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, and Ako Chuo Hospital before becoming Deputy Director (current position) at Takasaki Tower Clinic Department of Ophthalmology and Urology in April 2020.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan