This is general health information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or healthcare professional.
1. What are lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)?
Lower urinary tract symptoms are urinary symptoms arising from the bladder, bladder neck, prostate, urethra, or related pelvic structures. They are classified according to when the symptoms occur during the process of storing and passing urine.
2. What are the three main categories of LUTS?
LUTS are traditionally divided into three categories: storage symptoms, voiding symptoms, and post-micturition symptoms. A person may experience symptoms from one or several categories at the same time.
3. What are storage symptoms?
Storage symptoms occur while the bladder is filling with urine. They include increased daytime urinary frequency, urinary urgency, nocturia, and urinary incontinence. These symptoms are often associated with an overactive or irritable bladder.
4. What is urinary frequency?
Urinary frequency means needing to urinate more often than is usual for the individual. There is no single number that defines abnormal frequency because it depends on fluid intake, caffeine consumption, medications, bladder capacity, and other factors.
5. What is urinary urgency?
Urinary urgency is a sudden, difficult-to-defer desire to urinate. It is a characteristic storage symptom and may occur with or without urinary incontinence.
6. What are voiding symptoms?
Voiding symptoms occur when urine is being passed. They include hesitancy, a weak or slow urinary stream, intermittency, straining to urinate, and prolonged urination. These symptoms may occur when there is bladder outlet obstruction, such as from benign prostatic enlargement, although other causes are possible.
7. What are post-micturition symptoms?
Post-micturition symptoms occur immediately after urination. The main symptoms are a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying and post-micturition dribbling, where urine leaks shortly after leaving the toilet.
8. Can someone have more than one type of LUTS?
Yes. Many people have a combination of storage, voiding, and post-micturition symptoms. For example, a man with benign prostatic enlargement may have a weak urinary stream and incomplete emptying together with urinary frequency and nocturia.
9. Does the classification identify the underlying cause of LUTS?
No. The classification describes the symptoms but does not establish their cause. Similar symptoms can result from different conditions, including benign prostatic enlargement, overactive bladder, urinary tract infection, urethral obstruction, neurological disorders, medications, or excessive fluid and caffeine intake.
10. Why is classifying LUTS useful?
Classifying LUTS helps doctors identify the predominant symptoms, guide further assessment, and select appropriate treatment. Understanding whether symptoms are mainly related to urine storage, urination, or the period after urination can help determine whether further bladder, prostate, or urinary tract evaluation is needed.