Voiding dysfunction

Impaired, delayed or incomplete emptying of the bladder

If the time and place are suitable, the mechanism for emptying the bladder is normally set in motion voluntarily. The brain gives the start signal, the sphincter muscle relaxes and the bladder muscle pushes the urine out through the urethra. When the bladder is empty, the sphincter muscle tenses again and emptying is complete. All in all, the process of emptying the bladder does not take much longer than 30 seconds. The first sign of difficult bladder emptying is often a prolonged urination time, meaning that those affected need much longer to go to the toilet than normal people. Occasionally, initiating bladder emptying can cause difficulties, either a false start signal is generated in the brain or the correct signal does not reach the bladder.

Causes of a micturition dysfunction

Such disorders are often observed after a stroke, paraplegia or multiple sclerosis. A frequent annoyance is the sphincter muscle not opening on command, which prevents the bladder from emptying. Those affected spend considerably more time on the toilet, usually waiting in vain for the bladder to empty. In order to get the bladder to empty after all, the abdominal muscles are activated reflexively, unfortunately usually without success. An enlarged prostate in men can also make it difficult to empty the bladder.

Gradually over many years, the growing prostate gland constricts the urethra and thus obstructs the outflow of urine. On the toilet, the start of emptying is delayed, the urine stream is weak and it takes longer for the bladder to empty. Women who have undergone incontinence surgery also sometimes have difficulty emptying their bladder, especially if the bladder has been overcorrected and the bladder obstruction has been too tight.

The technique of self-catheterization is often used for functional disorders of the urinary tract. Those affected learn to urinate themselves at certain intervals using a catheter.