Search Results: what older women know

WebMD:

A small amount of dribbling after urinating, also known as post-micturition dribble (PMD), is a common phenomenon, especially as men age, and is often considered normal.

Why it happens:

Urethral muscle relaxation: The muscle that controls urine flow in the urethra relaxes after urination, sometimes allowing trapped urine to leak out.

Prostate size: As men age, the prostate gland can enlarge, potentially affecting the urethra and leading to PMD.

Pelvic floor muscles: Strong pelvic floor muscles can sometimes trap urine, leading to dribbling after urination.

When to seek medical advice:

While PMD is often normal, it's important to consult a doctor if the dribbling is excessive, accompanied by other symptoms like pain, burning, or difficulty urinating, or if it significantly impacts daily life.

Harvard Med school:

Many men dribble urine shortly after they have finished using the toilet and the bladder feels empty. Even waiting a moment and shaking the penis before zipping up won't stop it. The medical term for this is post-micturition dribbling. It's common in older men because the muscles surrounding the urethra — the long tube in the penis that allows urine to pass out of the body — don't squeeze as hard as they once did. This leaves a small pool of urine at a dip in the urethra behind the base of the penis. In less than a minute after finishing, this extra urine dribbles out.

Though dribbling after urination is more likely to affect men, women get it, too. A study conducted in 1997 reported that the prevalence of post-void dribbling in women was 30% to 50%. Depending on the age group, the highest prevalence is among women aged 65 to 74.