What is the reason why men can’t urinate?

Men's inability to urinate may be related to prostatic hyperplasia, urinary tract stones, urethral stricture, neurogenic bladder, acute urinary retention and other reasons. Difficulty urinating usually manifests as thin urine flow, difficulty urinating, frequent urination and urgency, etc. It is recommended to seek medical treatment in time to determine the cause.

1. Prostatic hyperplasia

Prostatic hyperplasia, which is common in middle-aged and elderly men, can compress the urethra and cause difficulty in urination, which may be related to changes in androgen levels. Typical symptoms include increased nocturia, waiting to urinate, and post-urinary dripping. Tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained-release capsules, finasteride tablets, Qianlieshutong capsules and other drugs are commonly used clinically to relieve symptoms. Severe cases require transurethral resection of the prostate.

2. Urinary tract stones

Sudden interruption of urination occurs when bladder or urethral stones block the urinary tract, often accompanied by lower abdominal cramping and hematuria. Stone formation is related to metabolic abnormalities, insufficient drinking water and other factors. It can be treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or ureteroscopy lithotomy, and the drugs can be selected as kidney stone granules and paishi granules to assist in stone expulsion.

3. Urethral stricture

Traumatic urethral injury or repeated inflammatory infections may lead to scarred urethral stricture, which is manifested by thin urine lines and prolonged urination time. Diagnosis needs to be confirmed by urethrography. Mild strictures can be treated with urethral dilation, while severe cases require urethroplasty to repair. When combined with infection, cefixime dispersible tablets and levofloxacin tablets can be used to control inflammation.

4. Neurogenic bladder

Diabetic neuropathy or spinal cord injury can affect the ability of the bladder to contract, causing urinary retention and inability to urinate. Patients may also have constipation or abnormal sensation in the lower limbs. Treatment requires urinary catheterization to relieve symptoms, methylcobalamin tablets to nourish the nerves, and implantation of a bladder pacemaker to improve urinary function when necessary.

5. Acute urinary retention

An acute attack of benign prostatic hyperplasia or drug side effects may cause a complete inability to urinate, accompanied by swelling and pain in the bladder area. It is a urological emergency and requires immediate catheterization. After catheterization, the cause needs to be investigated, and drugs that may aggravate symptoms, such as atropine tablets, should be avoided. Solifenacin succinate tablets can be taken for a short period of time to reduce bladder sensitivity.

Daily attention should be paid to maintaining a daily drinking volume of 1500-2000 ml of water, and avoiding the habit of sitting for long periods of time and holding urine. Limit the intake of alcohol and spicy food, and perform moderate levator exercises to enhance pelvic floor muscle function. When symptoms of dysuria occur, a urination diary should be recorded, including information such as single urine volume and urination intervals, to provide reference for doctors' diagnosis. It is recommended that middle-aged and older men undergo prostate-specific antigen examination and urinary system ultrasound screening every year.