Sensation in the urethra during voiding studied in young healthy men

Objectives: Evaluate sensation in the urethra during voiding and the possible role of visual and audible impulses, in young healthy men. Methods: In 10 healthy volunteers, 2 non-invasive uroflowmetries were done at desire to void and sensations felt during voiding were evaluated by questionnaire. Influence of visual and audible input was studied by performing a uroflowmetry while wearing blindfold eye patches and ear cups + earplugs. Results: All participants reported sensation of start of voiding, all but one of voiding stop. All felt clearly urine passage in the urethra and 8 had a sensation of warmth in the urethra. Visual and audible blocking gave lowering in grades of sensation. To start voiding took a significantly longer time. It became difficult for some men to determine accurately when the flow stopped. Conclusions: Voiding elicited different types of sensation in the urethra in healthy young men. The sensation was independent of the uroflowmetry parameters. Blocking visual and audible signals influenced the sensory and voiding process.