Most of us only worry about our bodies when something goes wrong. But understanding how your internal plumbing works can keep those waterworks woes at bay.
Of course, it’s not always so simple. Find out the answers to some common urinary questions bothering men:
Look at your urine – ideally it should be straw colour. If it’s darker, you need to drink more liquids such as water, juice or herbal teas. Note that alcohol is a diuretic, which makes you go more frequently and can lead to dehydration.
Dehydration can cause headaches in the short term and increase risk of urinary infections and kidney problems over time.3,4 See your GP if… you’ve noticed a sudden change in your urinary habits for no obvious reason, or if you have other unexplained symptoms such as back pain, blood in your urine or a change in its colour or smell, problems controlling the flow, pain on peeing, tiredness, weight loss, blurred vision or increased hunger or thirst.5Handpicked content: 10 reasons why your back hurts
Using your fingers, try applying gentle pressure just behind your scrotum, moving towards the base of your penis. This will push the urine forward, so it can be squeezed out.
In the long term, pelvic floor exercises will help strengthen your muscles.
See your GP if… it’s more than a dribble or you have other unexplained symptoms, including problems with flow, urgency, burning, pain when peeing or needing to get up several times a night to empty your bladder.9Practise safer sex and stick to non-scented soaps.
See your GP… even if there are no other symptoms and the problem goes away. It’s important to find the cause and treat any infection to prevent it spreading to others. Untreated infections can lead to future problems, including infertility, in you or any sexual partners. More serious causes need to be ruled out, too.16Handpicked content: Good foods for a healthy prostate
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1.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The Urinary Tract & How It Works. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/urinary-tract-how-it-works
2. Medical News Today. How many times a day should a person pee? Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321461.php
3. Patient. Headache. Available from: https://patient.info/health/headache-leaflet
4. Mayo Clinic. Dehydration. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086
5. As Source 2
6. Maserejian NN, et al. Prevalence of post-micturition symptoms in association with lower urinary tract symptoms and health-related quality of life in men and women. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3135743/
7. John Robinson. Post-micturition dribble in men: causes and treatment. Available from: https://journals.rcni.com/doi/abs/10.7748/ns2008.04.22.30.43.c6440
8. Bladder & Bowel Community. Post-micturition dribble. Available from: https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bladder/bladder-conditions-and-symptoms/post-micturition-dribble/
9. Continence Foundation of Australia. What is after-dribble? Available from: https://www.continence.org.au/pages/after-dribble.html
10. NHS Choices. Blood in urine. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-in-urine/#when-to-get-medical-help
11. As above
12. As Source 10
13. NHS Choices. Prostatitis. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Prostatitis/
14. NHS Choices. Overview. Non-gonococcal urethritis. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-gonococcal-urethritis/
15. Very Well Health. Causes of an Itchy Urethra in Men. Available from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/cause-and-treatment-of-an-itchy-urethra-in-men-49401
16. Better Health Channel. Non-specific urethritis. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/non-specific-urethritis-nsu
17. Healthline. Excessive urination at night (nocturia). Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/urination-excessive-at-night
18. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Nocturia (getting up at night to pass urine). Available from: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/elderly-care/nocturia.pdf
19. Healthline. Exercises for Men with Prostate Problems or an Overactive Bladder. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder-exercises-men
20. As Source 18
21. As Source 18
22. National Association of Continence. Nocturia. Available from: https://www.nafc.org/nocturia