Uroflowmetry measures how fast and how much urine you pass. You simply urinate into a special funnel that records the flow — nothing is inserted, and the test is painless.
Why it is requested
- Poor or hesitant urine flow
- Straining to pass urine, or dribbling at the end
- Assessment of an enlarged prostate
- Frequency and urgency
- Monitoring the effect of treatment
- Suspected narrowing of the urethra
Preparation
Arrive with a comfortably full bladder — drink water beforehand and try not to pass urine for an hour or two before your appointment. The test is unreliable if you cannot pass a reasonable volume, so it may have to be repeated if your bladder is empty.
What happens next
An ultrasound scan is often done straight afterwards to see how much urine is left behind. Together the two results give a clear picture of how well the bladder is emptying.
