URINE, CHANGE IN STREAM OF
Description and Possible Medical Problems
One of the advantages men have over women when it comes to biology is the ability to urinate easily in inconvenient venues. Of course, there are some women who would disagree with me, who think this ability spoils men because there’s no need for them to learn how to “hold it” on long cat trips as women have to. Despite this argument, one clear advantage in my eyes is that it means that men are easily able to observe their urine stream; if it changes in some way, it can indicate an underlying illness.
For instance, the stream may split into two; this is often a sign of a kidney stone. Other symptoms may include pain in the groin and blood in the urine. A change in the urine stream can also be a sign of prostate problems; the number one symptom is needing more time than usual to urinate. As a doctor, one of the ways I check my prostate is at sporting events. When all of the men are lined up at the urinals, I’m always amazed how quick the young men are compared to the older men.
However, though a slower stream doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem, if you find you have urine dribbling from your penis after you thought you were through or you’re unable to hold your urine for longer periods of time, you may have prostate disease. Sometimes, however, the fact that you make a great companion on long car trips because you don’t have to stop every hour to find a patch of bushes may also be a sign of an enlarged prostate that’s causing urinary retention.
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