What is post-micturition dribble?

Post-micturition dribble (PMD) is the loss of a few drops of urine after you have finished urinating.

Who suffers from post-micturition dribble?

is largely suffered by men, but can also affect women. This can occur at any age. With men, PMD usually happens after you have put your clothes back on following urination when you find a small patch of urine staining your underpants. With women, this usually happens quicker, often as soon you’ve got up from the toilet. 

This action is involuntary and occurs as a result of there being urine remaining in the urethra after a trip to the toilet. Although they can be reluctant to seek help about this, post-micturition dribble affects a large portion of men, and if it persists it should be treated. 

What is the cause of post-micturition dribble?

A common cause of is often caused weakened pelvic floor muscles which surround the urethra. The can be weakened by:


• A fragile bulbourethral muscle in men causing the inner part of your urethra behind the scrotum to sag slightly, and as a result, urine will gather after a trip to the toilet. When the muscles move i.e. when you walk away from the toilet, this urine is released
• A lack of support from muscles linked to the urethra in women
• Operations for an enlarged
• Continual straining to empty the bowels, especially when constipated
• Constant cough, for example, a smoker’s cough
• Overweight
• Neurological damage
• Persistent heavy lifting

How to treat post-micturition dribble

If you find PMD to be an issue, one way to overcome it can simply be to push your pelvic floor strongly after urination, or if you’re a man, gently pushing on your urethra (behind the scrotum) can be an effective way to release the remaining urine.
 
Pelvic floor muscle exercises can, if done correctly, help you improve your bladder control, and with time resolve or improve leakage. If you already have symptoms of pelvic floor weakness, these exercises can also help.
 
Before you begin exercising your pelvic floor, you need to find the correct muscles to activate. The easiest way to do this is by tightening the same muscles you use while trying not to break wind. Whenever you tighten those exact muscles, you are exercising your . By doing pelvic floor exercises regularly you can improve both the strength and endurance of your muscles, which helps you prevent urine leakage.
 
To find out about male pelvic floor exercises you can do at home to reduce urine leakage, see TENA Men. More can be found out about pelvic floor exercises for women on TENA Lady.
 
Kegel exercises and bladder training can also help manage general .
 
We understand that it can sometimes feel like incontinence is unbeatable, but TENA products can help you to manage it effectively. Have a look on the following pages to find out more about incontinence, and pick the product that is best suited to you:
 

Did you know

One in four men between 40 years and over experience lower urinary tract symptoms.

Illustration of four men with one shaded a lighter blue one in four