urinary hesitancy, a decrease in the force of the stream of urine, often with difficulty in beginning the flow. Hesitancy is usually the result of an obstruction or stricture between the bladder and the external urethral orifice. In men, it may indicate an enlargement of the prostate gland; in women, it may indicate stenosis of the orifice. Cold, stress, dehydration, and various neurogenic and psychogenic factors are common causes of this condition.
