A total of 47 men who complained of recurrent voiding symptoms and/or peri-genital pain syndrome of obscure etiology underwent neuro-urologic evaluation. Results of urodynamic assessment were divided into 3 groups: bladder areflexia with nonrelaxing perineal floor (50 per cent), bladder hyperreflexia (36 per cent) and normal studies (14 per cent). Pain symptoms were reproduced during bladder filling or contraction in 45 per cent of the patients. Treatment was according to the type of urodynamic abnormality demonstrated, resulting in a 77 per cent improvement rate. The concept of functional voiding disturbance and its relation to chronic prostatitis are discussed.