|  | Conditions Treatments | Urinary Disorders

Different Urinary Problems in Humans

The human urinary system is a complex mechanism consisting of a pair of kidneys, tubes called ureters that connect the kidneys to the bladder, two sphincter muscles and the urethra. The kidneys remove waste materials called urea from the bloodstream; the urea then combines with water and passes out of the body. Most people experience bladder problems because of infections, injury or as a result of the aging process.

  1. Prostatitis

    • Prostatitis is a group of several different disorders that affect the male prostate gland. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NKUDIC, 10 to 12 percent of all men experience the symptoms of prostatitis. Some of the general symptoms include painful urination and the inability to completely empty the bladder, but symptoms differ depending upon the individual and the type of prostatitis.

      The most common type of prostatitis is chronic prostatitis, or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Some men experience an inflammatory form of the disease, in which the prostate fluid, urine and semen all contain disease-fighting white blood cells, but no infectious bacteria is present. Neither bacteria or infection-fighting cells are found in non-inflammatory prostatitis. Men are diagnosed with asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis when white blood cells are found in the system but no pain is present.

      Chronic bacterial prostatitis and acute bacterial prostatitis are less common forms of the disease. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is characterized by recurring urinary tract infections. Men with acute bacterial prostatitis have body aches and pains, as well as fever and chills. They need to urinate frequently and urgently, but urination is often painful. Bacteria and white blood cells are found in the urine upon examination. Antimicrobial and antibiotic medications are used to treat the infections.

    Interstitial Cystitis

    • Interstitial cystitis is known by a number of names, including bladder pain syndrome and hypersensitive bladder syndrome. Most researchers believe that this condition is actually not just one disorder, but several different diseases, according to NKUDIC. This condition affects approximately 1.3 million Americans, 1 million of whom are women. Most people experience bladder spasms and a burning sensation during urination. Women feel pain in the pelvic area, lower bowels and vagina. Men develop pain in the penis and scrotum. People with interstitial cystitis feel the urgent need to urinate or must use the toilet more often than normal. There is no definitive cure for interstitial cystitis; treatment is directed towards alleviating the symptoms.

    Bacterial Cystitis

    • According to OBGYN.net, bacterial cystitis affects up to 20 percent of all women. The most evident symptoms are unpleasant-smelling urine, pain while urinating and the sudden and frequent need to use the restroom. Other symptoms include a general malaise, fever and dark-colored, bloody or cloudy urine. This disease is the result of bacteria that is transmitted from the bowel to the urethra during sex or from wiping back to front. Bacterial cystitis is treated with antibiotics. Urinating after intercourse and wiping from front to back helps prevent the disease from occurring.

Urinary Disorders - Related Articles