Urination Problems

in Flowcharts

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**The following is a general guideline from the American Medical Association. The flowchart below allows you to easily track your symptoms and come to a possible diagnosis. Be sure to consult with you doctor if you feel you have a serious medical problem.

I did not produce this chart myself, so any treatment options on this page are completely conventional.The following flowchart was reproduced with permission.

SYMPTOMS		DIAGNOSIS	SELF-CARE
Begin Here
1. Do you have pain or burning with urination?	No	Go to Question 7.**
Yes
2. Is your urine cloudy?	No	Go to Question 5.*
Yes
3. Do you have a fever and/or backache?	Yes	Pain and fever may be caused by an infection of the kidneys called PYELONEPHRITIS.	See your doctor right away.
No
4. Do you have sharp, knife-like, intense pains in your back or groin?	Yes	You may have a KIDNEY STONE or another serious problem.	EMERGENCY See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.

	No	You may have a BLADDER INFECTION or a more serious problem with the KIDNEYS.	See your doctor right away. Left untreated, problems with your kidneys may cause blood poisoning.

*5. Are you a man, and do you have an ache under your scrotum?	Yes	You may have PROSTATITIS, an infection of the prostate gland.	See your doctor.
No
6. Are you a man, and do you have a discharge from the tip of your penis?	Yes	These may be symptoms of an INFECTION such as URETHRITIS or a SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION, such as GONORRHEA.	See your doctor right away.
No
**7. Do you have the urge to urinate after just using the restroom, and are you only urinating small amounts at a time?	Yes	Your symptoms may be caused by an infection in the bladder, called CYSTITIS, or from an irritation of the bladder, called INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS, or from a KIDNEY STONE stuck in the bladder, or a chemical in the urine.	See your doctor.
No
8. Are you producing more urine than usual?	No	Go to Question 10.***
Yes
9. Have you been losing weight, drinking lots of fluids and/or have a history of diabetes in the family?	Yes	You may have DIABETES, a condition in which your body lacks insulin or doesn’t use it in the right way.	See your doctor.

	No	You may be taking a medicine that can cause increased urination. Drinking liquids containing caffeine can also cause increased urination.	You may want to check with your doctor. If you drink caffeinated beverages, try decreasing the amount you drink.

***10. Are you a woman, and do you leak urine when you cough or sneeze?	Yes	Your symptoms may be from a weakness in the bladder due to childbirth or aging. This weakness causes STRESS INCONTINENCE.	Absorbent protection may be helpful. Kegel exercises may help strengthen muscles that support the bladder. See your doctor.
No
11. Are you a man, and do you leak or dribble urine after you urinate, or do you have problems starting the urine stream, or do you wake many times at night to urinate?	Yes	You may have a problem with your PROSTATE GLAND. Your symptoms may be caused by a benign (non-cancerous) ENLARGEMENT or a more serious condition such as INFECTION or CANCER.	See your doctor.
No
12. Do you have blood in your urine?	Yes	You may have a KIDNEY STONE, a TUMOR in the kidney or bladder, a BLADDER INFECTION, TRAUMA to your kidney, or possibly a BLEEDING DISORDER.	See your doctor right away.
No
For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call your doctor right away.

See complete list of symptom flow charts

This tool has been reviewed by doctors and is for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. The information in this tool should not be relied upon to make decisions about your health. Always consult your family doctor with questions about your individual condition(s) and/or circumstances.

Source: American Medical Association (2008-04-21). American Medical Association Family Medical Guide (AMA Family Medical Guide) (Kindle Locations 6690-6691). Turner Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.