The lower urinary tract consists of the ureters (carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder), bladder, and urethra (carries urine outside the body). Its primary function is to store and eliminate urine which has been produced by the kidneys.

Voiding dysfunction or lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction are terms used to describe various problems related to the LUT’s ability to store or empty urine. These various symptoms may present with several different medical conditions. It is important to inform your physician if you are experiencing these symptoms so that an appropriate evaluation may be performed.

Symptoms related to storage problems include the following:

1. frequency – when an individual considers that she urinates too often.
2. urgency – a sudden compelling desire to pass urine, which is difficult to defer.
3. nocturia – when an individual has to wake at night one or more times to urinate.
4. urge incontinence – involuntary leakage of urine accompanied by or immediately proceeded by urgency.
5. stress incontinence – involuntary leakage of urine on effort or exertion, such as coughing, sneezing, or exercise.
6. continuous urinary incontinence – complaint of continuous urinary leakage.

Symptoms related to emptying problems include the following:

1.      slow stream – perception of reduced urine flow compared to previous 

performance.

2.      incomplete bladder emptying/ urinary retention

3.      straining to void – muscular effort used to initiate, maintain or improve urine stream.

4.      intermittent stream – describes urine flow which stops and starts on one or more occasion during urination.

5.      hesitancy – difficulty with initiating urination resulting in a delay in onset of voiding after an individual is ready to pass urine.

6.      post-micturition dribble – involuntary loss of urine usually after raising from the toilet.

             Pain symptoms related to LUT include the following:

1.      bladder pain – pain felt above the pubic bone, usually increasing with

bladder filling.

2.      urethral pain – pain felt in the urethra (carries urine outside the body),

usually with voiding.

3.      vulvar pain – pain felt in and around the external genitalia.

4.      vaginal pain – pain felt internally above the introitus.

5.      perineal pain – pain felt between the posterior lip of the introitus and the anus.

6.      pelvic pain – pain that is less well defined, it may be from LUT, bowel, sexual or gynecologic origin.