Kencing Tak Lawas: Punca pada Lelaki & Perempuan

Kencing tak lawas describes problems passing urine smoothly: feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied, a weak or stop-start flow, straining, or dribbling after you finish. In men, the most common cause is an enlarged prostate, especially over the age of 50. In women, common causes include urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic organ prolapse and weak pelvic floor muscles after childbirth. Constipation, an overactive bladder and some medicines can affect anyone. Treatment depends on the cause, so see a doctor rather than guessing; get urgent help if you cannot pee at all, see blood in your pee, or have pain with a fever.

This guide explains the possible causes for men and women and links to our detailed guides for each condition.

What is kencing tak lawas?

Kencing tak lawas is a common Malay phrase for urine that does not come out smoothly or completely. People use it to describe one or more of these:

• feeling like you cannot fully empty your bladder;
• difficulty starting to pee, or having to push or strain;
• a weak flow, or a flow that stops and starts;
• dribbling after you finish;
• needing to go again soon after, often passing only small amounts;
• leaking small amounts of urine.

It is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It is related to, but not the same as, kerap kencing (peeing more often than usual), and the two often happen together.

When is it urgent?

According to the NHS, get an urgent appointment with a doctor if you:

• cannot pee at all;
• have blood in your pee (it may look pink, red or brown);
• have pain when peeing;
• have UTI symptoms with a very high or low temperature, or shivering;
• are a man with UTI symptoms, or have diabetes.

Call 999 or go to the emergency department if you suddenly feel confused, have slurred speech, have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin or lips, a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, or severe difficulty breathing. These can be signs of a serious infection or sepsis.

Punca kencing tak lawas: common causes at a glance

Sources: NHS pages on enlarged prostate, prostatitis, UTIs, pelvic organ prolapse, bladder pain syndrome and urinary incontinence. Do not self-diagnose; a doctor can check your urine and examine you.

Kencing tak lawas pada lelaki (men)

Enlarged prostate (prostat bengkak). The prostate is a small gland below the bladder that controls the flow of pee. According to the NHS, an enlarged prostate is most common in men over 50, and can press on the tube that carries pee, causing:

• difficulty starting to pee, or having to push or strain;
• a weak flow, stopping and starting, and taking longer to empty your bladder;
• feeling like you cannot fully empty your bladder;
• dribbling after you finish;
• needing to pee more often or urgently, including at night.

The NHS says an enlarged prostate is not caused by prostate cancer and does not increase your risk of it. But these symptoms should still be checked, because they can sometimes be caused by more serious conditions such as prostate cancer. See our guide to prostat bengkak and kanser prostat.

Prostatitis. This is inflammation of the prostate, usually caused by an infection such as a UTI. According to the NHS, symptoms include pain or burning when peeing, difficulty peeing or straining, needing to pee more often, pain in the penis, testicles or bottom, pain when ejaculating, and a high temperature. It needs medical help and is treated with antibiotics.

UTIs in men. The NHS advises men with UTI symptoms to get an urgent appointment with a doctor.

Kencing tak lawas pada perempuan (women)

Urinary tract infections (UTIs). According to the NHS, symptoms include pain or burning when peeing, needing to pee more often or suddenly, cloudy pee, blood in the pee and lower tummy pain. See our guide to UTI symptoms.

Pelvic organ prolapse (peranakan jatuh). According to the NHS, prolapse is common in women over 50 and can cause problems peeing, such as feeling like your bladder is not emptying fully, needing the toilet more often, or leaking when you cough, sneeze or exercise. Other signs include heaviness or a bulge in the vagina. See our guide to peranakan jatuh.

Pregnancy and childbirth. According to the NHS, pregnancy and vaginal birth can weaken the pelvic floor muscles and increase the chance of leaking urine. In a study of 424 pregnant women at a Malaysian tertiary centre, 46.1% had at least one pelvic floor symptom during pregnancy; of these, 62.3% had urinary incontinence, and most women had low knowledge about it.

Bladder pain syndrome. The NHS says it is more common in women and usually affects people aged 40 or above. It causes bladder or lower tummy pain, feeling you need to pee even when your bladder is empty, and passing small amounts often.

Causes that affect both men and women

• Constipation: according to the NHS, constipation can press on the bladder and is one of the things that can stop it emptying fully (see sembelit).
• Overactive bladder: the NHS lists drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, not drinking enough fluids (which makes urine concentrated and irritating), constipation and UTIs among possible causes.
• Bladder stones can block the bladder, according to the NHS.
• Nerve problems, such as after a spinal injury or some operations, and conditions like Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.
• Some medicines can affect how the bladder fills and empties. Check with a doctor or pharmacist, but do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
• Being overweight and increasing age raise the chance of leaking urine, although the NHS says incontinence is not an inevitable part of ageing.

Cara hilangkan kencing tak lawas: what you can do

Depending on the cause, these steps from the NHS can help:

• cut down on alcohol and caffeine (tea, coffee and cola), as they can make you pee more;
• drink enough during the day, but less before bed or before going out; do not cut down too much, as this can lead to UTIs;
• eat enough fibre to prevent constipation;
• keep to a healthy weight;
• relax when you pee instead of straining;
• wait a few moments after you pee, then try again to help empty your bladder;
• for men, gently press behind the scrotum and move your fingers towards the base of the penis after peeing to push out the last drops;
• do pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) to strengthen the muscles that control your bladder;
• try bladder training, where you gradually hold on a little longer between trips to the toilet.

These steps do not treat an infection. If you have pain, fever or blood in your pee, see a doctor.

Ubat kencing tak lawas: medical treatment

There is no single ubat kencing tak lawas. Treatment depends on the cause:

Many people search for ubat kencing tak lawas tradisional. Whatever you try, find out the cause first: infections need the right treatment, and prostate or prolapse problems need a doctor's assessment. Tell your doctor about any herbal products or supplements you take.

When should you see a doctor?

See a doctor (at a klinik kesihatan or a GP) if you have difficulty peeing, feel you cannot empty your bladder, leak urine, or need to pee more often. The NHS encourages people not to be embarrassed, as doctors are used to talking about these symptoms.

The doctor may ask you to keep a record of how much you drink and pee for a few days, test a urine sample, examine your tummy, do a pelvic or rectal examination, or arrange a blood test, a scan of your bladder or a urine flow test.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What does kencing tak lawas mean?

Kencing tak lawas is a Malay phrase for problems passing urine smoothly, such as feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied, a weak or stop-start flow, straining, dribbling after you finish, or needing to go again soon after. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and has several possible causes in both men and women.

What causes kencing tak lawas in men (lelaki)?

In men, the most common cause is an enlarged prostate, which the NHS says is most common over 50 and causes difficulty starting to pee, a weak or stop-start flow, feeling that the bladder is not empty and dribbling. Other causes include prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), urinary tract infections and constipation. A doctor should check these symptoms, as they can sometimes be caused by more serious conditions such as prostate cancer.

What causes kencing tak lawas in women (perempuan)?

In women, common causes include urinary tract infections, pelvic organ prolapse (which can cause a feeling that the bladder is not emptying fully), weak pelvic floor muscles after pregnancy and childbirth, bladder pain syndrome and constipation. See a doctor to find the cause, especially if you have pain, blood in your pee or a lump in your vagina.

What is the best ubat for kencing tak lawas?

There is no single ubat, because treatment depends on the cause. A urinary tract infection may need antibiotics. An enlarged prostate may be treated with lifestyle changes first, then medicines such as tamsulosin or finasteride if needed. Leaking urine is often helped by pelvic floor exercises and bladder training. Avoid relying on traditional remedies without finding the cause first.

How can I get rid of kencing tak lawas quickly (cara hilangkan)?

Simple steps from the NHS can help some people: cut down on alcohol and caffeine, drink enough during the day but less before bed, prevent constipation with enough fibre, keep to a healthy weight, relax rather than strain when you pee, and wait a few moments and try again to empty your bladder. If the cause is an infection, you may need treatment from a doctor.

When is kencing tak lawas an emergency?

Get urgent medical help if you cannot pee at all, have blood in your pee, have UTI symptoms with a very high or low temperature or shivering. Call 999 if you have signs of a serious infection such as confusion, blue, grey or blotchy skin, or severe difficulty breathing.

Is kencing tak lawas the same as kerap kencing?

Not exactly. Kerap kencing means peeing more often than usual. Kencing tak lawas usually means difficulty emptying your bladder or passing urine smoothly. The two often happen together, for example with an enlarged prostate or a urinary tract infection.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. Urinary symptoms have many causes; see a doctor to find out what is causing yours. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

• Enlarged prostate — NHS
• Prostatitis — NHS
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) — NHS
• Pelvic organ prolapse — NHS
• Bladder pain syndrome — NHS
• Urinary incontinence — NHS
• Causes of urinary incontinence — NHS
• Non-surgical treatment for urinary incontinence — NHS
• Nur Farihan M, et al. Prevalence, knowledge and awareness of pelvic floor disorder among pregnant women in a tertiary centre, Malaysia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8314