Intermittent Urine Flow

About the Symptom

Having a urine stream that involuntarily starts and stops. Generally this is due to partial obstruction of the urethra, the tube that drains the bladder.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Urine flow starts and stops

Possible Causes

Generally, Intermittent urine flow can be related to:

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

  Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. Age-related changes in male hormone levels are thought to be the cause. Incidence increases with age with an estimated 80% of men over the age of 70 with BPH. Symptoms may include a weak urinary stream, leakage of urine after voiding and urinating frequently at night (nocturia).

• Urethral Stricture

  The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder and allows urine to leave the body. A urethral stricture is when the urethra is narrowed, restricting the flow of urine from the bladder. This condition usually occurs due to inflammation or the presence of scar tissue. Pelvic fractures and an enlarged prostate can also cause urethral strictures.

• Neurogenic Bladder

  A condition where nerves supplying the bladder are damaged. Causes include injury to the spinal cord and nerve diseases like Parkinson's disease and Multiple sclerosis.

• Prostate Cancer
• Overactive Bladder
• Drug-Induced Urinary Retention
• Cystitis
• Diabetes Mellitus

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Intermittent urine flow may be related to these serious diseases:

• Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

  Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare nerve disorder where a person's own immune system attacks their nerves. GBS can cause symptoms ranging from mild (arm/leg numbness or weakness) to severe and life-threatening (inability to breathe, abnormal heart rhythm, very high/low blood pressure). The prognosis is generally good. Over half of people fully recover and 80% can walk independently at 1 year. However, a minority of people may have permanent nerve damage or need a ventilator to breathe, and the overall death rate ranges from 3% to 7%.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Does your urine flow stop and start?
• When did you first notice that your urine flow stops and starts?
• How frequently does your urine flow intermittently?
• How has your intermittent urine flow changed since it started?

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