Urethral Disorders—Bladder Diseases

The bladder is a hollow organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine. Many conditions can affect your bladder. Some common ones are

• Cystitis – inflammation of the bladder, often from an infection
• Urinary incontinence – loss of bladder control
• Overactive bladder – a condition in which the bladder squeezes urine out at the wrong time
• Interstitial cystitis – a chronic problem that causes bladder pain and frequent, urgent urination
• Bladder cancer

Doctors diagnose bladder diseases using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays, and an examination of the bladder wall with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Bladder biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bladder outlet obstruction (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bladder stones (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cystitis – noninfectious (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Indwelling catheter care (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Neurogenic bladder (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Self catheterization – female (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Self catheterization – male (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urinary catheters (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urinary Retention – NIH (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

The urethra is the tube that allows urine to pass out of the body. In men, it’s a long tube that runs through the penis. It also carries semen in men. In women, it’s short and is just above the vagina. Urethral problems may happen due to aging, illness, or injury. They include

• Urethral cancer – a rare cancer that happens more often in men
• Urethral stricture – a narrowing of the opening of the urethra
• Urethritis – inflammation of the urethra, sometimes caused by infection

Urethral problems may cause pain or difficulty passing urine. You may also have bleeding or discharge from the urethra.

Doctors diagnose urethral problems using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays and an examination of the urethra with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.

• Chlamydial infections – male (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Epispadias (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Meatal stenosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Self catheterization – female (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Self catheterization – male (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Traumatic injury of the bladder and urethra (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethral discharge culture (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethral stricture (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urinary Retention – NIH (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)