perceptions of urinary symptoms and healthcareseeking behaviour amongst men aged 4079 years background little is known about why men fail to seek medical help for urological symptomsaim this study was designed to document mens perceptions of urinary symptoms and to increase understanding of healthcareseeking behaviourmethod a stratified random sample of men aged 4079 years was drawn from the agesex register of a health centre in central scotland two hundred men were interviewed using semistructured qualitative techniques and asked to complete a symptom questionnaire the response rate was 65results urinary symptoms reported to be most bothersome were dribbling hesitancy and straining all but the youngest age group 4049 years associated developing urinary symptoms with ageing this was considered to be a reason not to consult a doctor most symptoms were not thought to be serious pain haematuria and acute retention gave cause for concern and were perceived as reasons for seeking medical help although urinary symptoms interfered with selected activities in daily life this was not a worry to the men and was not seen to be a sufficient reason alone to consult their general practitionerconclusion the insidious development of urinary problems over time reinforces the belief that it is part of getting older and accounts for the accommodation of symptoms within mens everyday living experiences bothersomeness associated with urinary symptoms was not synonymous with worry or problems doctors must be prepared to initiate discussion about urinary function in order to assess the impact of symptoms on an individuals daily life