Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Young Men-Causes and Management

This review explores the subject of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in young men.

Young men (aged 39 or younger) can be affected by a variety of conditions that can cause LUTS. Approximately half of young men report LUTS. Storage or "irritative" voiding symptoms are nearly twice as common as "obstructive" symptoms in young men. Infectious or inflammatory causes such as prostatitis are the most common cause of LUTS in this age group, while other etiologies include urethral strictures, primary bladder neck obstruction, as well as neurogenic and non-neurogenic bladder dysfunction. A thorough clinical evaluation is critical for determining the correct diagnosis and directing the appropriate treatment plan. Young men experience lower urinary tract symptoms at relatively high rates. Clinical treatments range from behavioral therapy to medications and/or surgical interventions. Ambulatory urodynamics and wearable sensors may provide more accurate and real-world diagnostic assessment of bladder dysfunction in this relatively under-studied group. More study is needed to characterize the disease burden and impact in this specific group of patients.