Lower urinary tract symptoms

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refer to a group of clinical symptoms involving the bladder, urinary sphincter, urethra, and, in men, the prostate. Although LUTS is a clinical term used in both sexes, it is most frequently used in men, often associated with an enlarged prostate.

Symptoms

LUTS can be categorized into three groups: storage, voiding, and post-micturition symptoms.

• Storage symptoms include increased frequency of urination, urgency, and urge incontinence.
• Voiding symptoms include slow stream, splitting or spraying, intermittency, hesitancy, straining, and terminal dribble.
• Post-micturition symptoms include a feeling of incomplete emptying and post-micturition dribble.

Causes

LUTS can be caused by various conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), overactive bladder, urinary tract infections (UTIs), prostatitis, and urological cancers.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of LUTS involves a thorough medical history, physical examination, and various diagnostic tests such as urinalysis, ultrasound, uroflowmetry, and cystometry.

Treatment

Treatment for LUTS depends on the underlying cause and may include lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery. Medications used to treat LUTS include alpha blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and anticholinergics. Surgical options include transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and prostatectomy.

See also

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Overactive bladder
• Urinary incontinence
• Prostatitis
• Urinary tract infection

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References

External links

• American Urological Association - Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)
• NHS - Lower urinary tract symptoms in men