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A hesitating start when urinating, a need to strain, a weak and trickling stream of urine, and dribbling at the end of urination are common symptoms of a partially obstructed urethra. In men, these symptoms are caused most commonly by an enlarged prostate that compresses the urethra and less often by a narrowing (stricture) of the urethra. Similar symptoms in a boy may mean that he was born with an abnormally narrow urethra or has a urethra with an abnormally narrow external opening. The opening may also be abnormally narrow in women.
A doctor examines the prostate by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the man's rectum. If the prostate is enlarged, a blood test to measure the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level is done and sometimes prostate ultrasonography is done. If a urethral stricture is suspected, the doctor may insert a flexible viewing tube into the bladder (cystoscopy).
To treat an enlarged prostate, drugs or surgery can be used. To treat a urethral stricture in a man, doctors may insert a catheter into the bladder through the penis and perform dilation (stretching the urethra). It may be necessary to insert a hollow tube to hold the urethra open (a stent). Surgeons may rebuild the urethra or perform other surgical treatments.
Last full review/revision March 2007 by Ralph E. Cutler, MD
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