Urinary Bladder Problems In Males

Diagnosis Of Enlarged Prostate Gland And Urinary Problems

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If you are troubled by urination problems, see a doctor no matter what your age. If your doctor agrees that your symptoms need further evaluation and treatment, you may need to undergo a few tests.These may include:

general examination medical history and review of any health conditions including obesity, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, depression and erectile dysfunction. A rectal examination may be done to check the size and shape of your prostate gland
a urine check to ensure the prostate is not infected
a flow-rate check to estimate the speed with which you pass urine
an ultrasound examination to assess if the bladder is emptying completely and to examine your kidneys
urodynamics a series of tests on the bladder to see how your urinary system is functioning may be recommended in some circumstances.

Urgent Advice: Ask For An Urgent Gp Appointment Or Get Help From Nhs 111 If:

You think you, your child or someone you care for may have a urinary tract infection and:

a very high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
a very low temperature below 36C
are confused, drowsy or have difficulty speaking
have not been for a pee all day
have pain in the lower tummy or in the back, just under the ribs
can see blood in their pee

These symptoms could mean you have a kidney infection, which can be serious if its not treated as it could cause .

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

How Is Urinary Retention Treated

Treatment for urinary retention can depend on whether you have the acute form or the chronic form, as well as the cause of the condition. For the acute form, a catheter is put into the urethra to drain the bladder.

Treatment of the chronic form or the acute form that becomes chronicwill depend on the cause.

Medications for enlarged prostate: For men with an enlarged prostate, certain drugs may be used to try and open it up or shrink it. These include alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors . Also, procedures or surgery to open up the prostate may be tried.

Procedures for enlarged prostate: Many procedures are available when this problem is due to an enlarged prostate. Office-based treatments can be done with just local anesthetic only. These include water vapor therapy and prostatic urethral lift .

There are also several surgeries done under general anesthesia which are available. These include shaving down the inside of the prostate and opening up the prostate with a laser . A laser can also be used to carve out the entire enlarged portion of the prostate through the urethra , or this part of the prostate can be removed through the belly . All of these procedures can be effective in opening up the blockage.

Treatment for nerve issues: If the retention is due to a nerve-related issue, you may need to use a catheter on yourself at home.

What To Expect From Your Doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a few questions, such as:

When did you first begin experiencing symptoms, and how severe are they?
Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
What, if anything, seems to improve or worsen your symptoms?
How often do you need to urinate?
When do you leak urine?
Do you have trouble emptying your bladder?
Have you noticed blood in your urine?
How often do you drink alcohol and caffeinated beverages?
How often do you eat spicy, sugary or acidic foods?

Symptoms Of Urinary Problems

Bladder changes after pelvic radiotherapy

Urinary symptoms commonly experienced with prostate problems include:

the need to urinate frequently during the night
urinating more often during the day
urinary urgency the urge to urinate can be so strong and sudden that you may not reach the toilet in time
the urine stream is slow to start
urine dribbling for some time after finishing urination
a sensation that the bladder isn’t fully emptied after urination
lack of force to the urine flow, which makes directing the stream difficult
the sensation of needing to go again soon after urinating.

Although these symptoms often do not need treatment, see your doctor if they are causing you difficulty, as they can be successfully treated.

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Three Common Urinary Problems In Men And What You Can Do About Them

As you age you may notice changes in your urination. Perhaps you have noticed that you have difficulty starting or stopping the flow, or maybe the flow is weaker and slower than before. In addition to problems with flow, you might notice that you dont always empty your bladder completely and you always feel like you have to go. Or, perhaps you have just noticed that you are going to the bathroom more often, especially at night.

While many of these problems can be attributed to aging, there may be other issues besides aging that could be causing three of the most common urinary problems that occur in men, and many are treatable.

What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Utis

UTIs can cause such signs as:

pain, burning, or a stinging sensation when peeing
an increased urge or more frequent need to pee
waking up at night a lot to go to the bathroom
belly pain in the area of the bladder
foul-smelling pee that may look cloudy or contain blood

If you have any symptoms of a UTI, youll need to go to a doctor right away. The sooner you begin treatment, the less uncomfortable youll be. Call your doctors office or clinic. If you cant reach your doctor, you can visit an urgent care center or hospital emergency room. The most important thing is to take action as soon as possible.

What Are Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms In Women

LUTS are divided into three groups:

Problems with the storage of urine in the bladder.
Problems passing urine.
Problems after passing urine.

Sometimes symptoms cross into more than one of these groups. Sometimes women just have symptoms from one group. Others may have symptoms from two or all groups. Some of the LUTS women may experience are:

Burning or stinging when you pass urine.
Constant lower tummy ache.
A slow stream of urine.

Complications Of Urinary Tract Infections

Trouble Urinating? What Causes Urinary Issues in Men

Urinary tract infections are an extremely common condition, and most people recover quickly with antibiotic treatment. However, if left untreated the infection can spread throughout the urinary tract system, increasing in severity and causing complications.

In some cases, the infection can reach the kidneys in the upper urinary tract, an infection known as pyelonephritis. Without medical intervention, this can lead to permanent kidney damage. Possible complications from untreated UTIs include:

Formation of abscesses within or around the kidneys
Swelling of the kidneys, also known as hydronephrosis
, also known as blood poisoning

All of these complications are serious and require immediate medical attention.

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Urinary Incontinence In Men

Uncontrollable urination or urinary incontinence occurs in eleven to 34 percent of older men, but it is not just an age-related issue. Younger men can also experience incontinence due to health problems. Urinary incontinence also happens to women, but the biggest issue with incontinence in men is that they are less likely to speak with their doctors about it. This means that the statistics for men could actually be much higher in men that the current numbers indicate. Discussing the problem is the first step towards addressing the symptoms and finding a treatment.

Urinary incontinence often results in the accidental leakage of urine from the body, so it can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. A man can feel a strong, sudden need to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine. Doctors refer to this as urgency incontinence. For some people, this condition keeps them from enjoying certain activities, including sports and exercise. It can also cause a lot of emotional distress as well.

There are different types of urinary incontinence. The types of urinary incontinence men can experience include urgency incontinence, stress incontinence, functional incontinence, overflow urinary incontinence, and transient urinary incontinence.

Bphs Relation To Prostate Cancer

Summers says BPH is not a precursor to prostate cancer, though his patients often worry about that.

Prostate cancer may have no symptoms at all, Summers says. but we do screening for prostate cancer during any workup for BPH.

Part of that cancer screening is checking prostate specific antigen levels. Of note, both prostate cancer and BPH can cause an elevated PSA.

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Bladder Problems In Older Men How To Decrease Risks

There are some differences in how bladder problems in older men present that are distinct from what occurs in older women. Aging can significantly impact the bladder and the urethra.

It is important to understand these changes, know the risks and manage them to avoid unnecessary complications which can impact the quality of life in later years.

Some References

Older Adults Dont Need Powerful Antibiotics For Utis

Neurogenic Bladder: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Treatment for UTIs should begin with narrow-spectrum antibiotics, say Dr. Lathia and Dr. Goldman.

These drugs are less likely to lead to antibiotic resistance and problematic side effects than broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Today, amoxicillin is commonly prescribed as first-line treatment for UTIs in older adults.

Other common narrow-spectrum must be used with caution when patients have chronic kidney disease or take blood pressure medication, as many older adults do or because their side effects can be serious in older adults.

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Weak Flow And Difficulty Urinating

Most flow problems are caused by an enlargement in the prostate gland. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland near the urethra the tube that carries urine from your bladder. When the gland swells, it presses down on the urethra, which constricts the flow of urine, causing slower urine flow and difficulty starting urination.

Several things can cause prostate swelling including:

Other causes of urinary difficulty include certain medications, such as antihistamines and decongestants, and bladder stones.

If you start having trouble urinating, or notice changes in your urine flow, contact your doctor immediately to rule out the possibility of a serious disease.

When To See A Professional

If you are experiencing the early signs of a UTI, see a doctor as soon as possible. Putting off a visit to the doctor if you have symptoms of a UTI will not only prolong your discomfort, but could also lead to complications. If detected early, a UTI is usually easy to treat and has no lasting effect on your urinary tract. However, if left untreated, a UTI can also affect your bladder and kidneys.

To help rid yourself of a painful UTI, contact the Urology Specialists of the Carolinas today for an appointment. A simple examination and urine or blood test could save you a lot of trouble in the long run. With a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, you will be on the road to recovery in no time.

In addition to seeing a professional, your nutrition and lifestyle play a huge role in a happy and healthy urinary tract system. Download our Nutrition and Lifestyle Guide to learn our top tips and tricks for maintaining and achieving optimal urology health.

This content was originally published in February 2015 and was refreshed in December 2020.

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How Can I Prevent Flank Pain

You may not always be able to prevent flank pain. But you can reduce your risk of kidney problems, injuries and disease by maintaining good health. You should:

Eat right and stay hydrated: By drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and eating a healthy diet, you can lower your risk of kidney stones. Water keeps you hydrated and flushes out your kidneys, decreasing the chance of infection and making it more difficult for stones to form. Ask your provider about a low-sodium, calcium-rich diet that may prevent kidney stones.
Maintain a weight thats healthy for you: Get regular exercise and stay active. People who have overweight or obesity have a higher chance of developing kidney stones. Extra weight also puts pressure on your spine and makes you more vulnerable to injuries that cause flank pain.
Take care of your urinary tract: To reduce the risk of bacteria entering your urinary tract and causing an infection, always urinate after having sex. Women should wipe from front to back after urinating. Drink plenty of water, and use the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge. Holding urine in your bladder increases your chance of infection.
Visit your provider: Stay up to date on vaccines . Schedule regular screenings for cancer and other diseases, and talk to your provider about reducing your risk of kidney problems.

How Do Utis Affect Pregnancy

Urinary Incontinence in Men, Animation

Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy raise your risk for UTIs. UTIs during pregnancy are more likely to spread to the kidneys.

If youre pregnant and have symptoms of a UTI, see your doctor or nurse right away. Your doctor will give you an antibiotic that is safe to take during pregnancy.

If left untreated, UTIs could lead to kidney infections and problems during pregnancy, including:

Premature birth

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Painful Urination Due To Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the United States of America. This type of malignancy mainly affects the epithelial lining of the urinary bladder. The most common symptoms associated with bladder cancer include painful urination , blood in urine with frequent urge to urinate . It commonly affects men from Caucasian origin and men with a family history of bladder cancer.

What To Expect At Your Office Visit

Your provider will take your medical history and do an exam to look at your pelvis, genitals, rectum, abdomen, and lower back.

You may be asked questions such as:

How long have you had the problem and when did it start?
Is it worse in the morning or at night?
Has the force of your urine flow decreased? Do you have dribbling or leaking urine?
Does anything help or make the problem worse?
Do you have symptoms of an infection?
Have you had other medical conditions or surgeries that could affect your urine flow?
What medicines do you take?

Tests that may be performed include:

Catheterization of the bladder to determine how much urine remains in your bladder after trying to urinate and to get urine for culture
Cystometrogram or urodynamic study

Delayed urination Hesitancy Difficulty initiating urination

Recommended Reading: Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Guidelines

I Woke Up To Find That I Couldnt Wee At All

By this time, we had moved to Kenya and I was getting infections twice a year again and I was having to exert real pressure on my abdomen just to pass urine. I had a further dilation in 2016 and a third in 2020. At this point, the lab was struggling to pinpoint the cause of these infections, and in April this year, feeling desperate I reached out to my urologist for a further dilation. A month later, I woke up to find that I couldnt wee at all. By lunchtime, I was feeling very uncomfortable and after a call to my urologist, I ended up being catheterised in hospital and having 4 litres drained.

It now turns out that the over distention of my bladder over the years has caused my detrusor muscle to fail. I lost a lot of what I thought of as middle aged spread and have gained some energy but I am still learning to cope with this equipment .

Living in Kenya, means that supplies are difficult to get hold of and I try to purchase what I need when Im back in the UK. Im hoping to start ISC , but again Im concerned about getting supplies. but Im guessing as with so many other aspects of my life, it will be a DIY job!

We thank Anna for her time in sharing her story and wish her all the best with her ongoing healthcare journey. You can find out more about bladder conditions, treatments and catheter care by visiting our online catheter hub.

Reducing The Risk Of Developing Utis Behavioral Changes

Preventative measures help reduce the occurrence of many bladder problems. The measures proposed by medics may appear restrictive but following them will promote a healthier lifestyle

Hydration- Remain hydrated by drinking at least 6 -8 eight ounce glasses of water a day.
Dont smoke. If you are a smoker, it is time to quit! Why? Non smokers have a lower risk of developing bladder and kidney cancer.
Limit consumption of alcohol and caffeinated drinks or beverages. The key word is limit and not necessarily cut out.
Maintain a healthy high fiber diet fruits, vegetables and whole grains to prevent constipation.
Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight.
Practice good toileting habits Do not hold your urine when you feel pressure to go to the bathroom, and when you do go, do not rush. Regular voiding regularly every 3-6 hours will help keep your bladder healthy
Avoid bladder irritants. Avoid or eliminate any foods that irritate your bladder. Some of these may include spicy and acidic foods, caffeine, alcohol and carbonated beverages

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