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Urinary System Disorders

Disorders affecting the urinary system range from mild to potentially life threatening and may affect the urinary tract, bladder, kidneys or prostate. Many mild urinary problems resolve themselves and are short-lived in nature. Due to the possibility of a potentially serious condition, a doctor should evaluate persistent urinary problems or changes.

  1. Urinary Tract Infections

    • Bacteria in the urinary tract can cause a urinary tract infection (UTI) that may affect the bladder, kidneys or both. A urinary tract infection that occurs in the kidneys can cause serious permanent damage if it goes untreated. UTIs usually clear up with antibiotics and drinking plenty of fluids to flush out the infection-causing bacteria. Common symptoms of a UTI include burning or pain while urinating, a persistent urge to urinate, blood in the urine and passing small amounts of urine frequently. (See Reference 2) According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), women are more likely to develop a UTI than men are.

    Urinary Incontinence

    • Urinary incontinence is characterized by the inability to control the bladder, resulting in involuntary urination. Urinary incontinence has many causes and possible treatment options, ranging from exercises to help the patient regain control of the bladder to surgery to support the bladder. Urinary incontinence affects women more than men according to the NKUDIC.

    Kidney Stones

    • Kidney stones are deposits of salt and minerals that stick together to form hard stones. They form in the kidneys but can be found anywhere in the urinary system. Kidney stones often cause intense pain in the back, side, abdomen or groin. Bloody urine and frequent and/or painful urination may also be signs of a kidney stone. Many stones pass on their own and treatment focuses on reducing pain and preventing an infection. Surgical removal is sometimes necessary for larger, more difficult stones. Men are more likely to develop kidney stones than women, according to the NKUDIC.

    Kidney Failure

    • Kidney failure causes the kidneys to be unable to filter and remove waste products from the body through urine. Kidney failure may occur suddenly as the result of an injury, significant blood loss or certain poisons and drugs. Sudden kidney failure may lead to permanent damage but full recovery is possible if the damage is not too severe. Chronic kidney disease is the slow onset of the loss of kidney function and may go unnoticed for several years according to the NKUDIC. Kidney failure is usually treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant.

    Prostate Disorders

    • Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects the prostate gland in men. BPH is characterized by an enlarged prostate that squeezes the urethra causing a blockage that makes it difficult to pass urine. BPH is most common in older men and the NKUDIC states that most men over 60 have some level of BPH, though not all cause blockages and urinary problems.

      Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland sometimes caused by a bacterial infection. Symptoms of prostatitis include burning or painful urination, pain in the lower back or groin and increased urinary frequency and urgency. Bacterial prostatitis is often successfully treated with antibiotics. According to the NKUDIC, prostatitis is more commonly caused by factors other than bacteria. These cases are usually treated with physical therapy exercises and relaxation techniques to ease pain, tricyclic antidepressants or other drugs called alpha-adrenergic blockers.

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