history

Last reviewed 01/2018

The history should concentrate on urinary symptoms - these are classically divided into obstructive and irritative:

Obstructive symptoms:

  • hesitancy
  • poor stream
  • terminal dribbling

Irritative symptoms:

  • frequency
  • nocturia
  • urgency
  • urge incontinence

Patients may also present with complications:

  • acute urinary retention
  • renal failure and uraemic symptoms

Haematuria is unusual although it may result from:

  • rupture of veins overlying an enlarged prostate
  • an obstructing bladder tumour