Causes and Symptoms of Bladder Infections
How Does the Bladder Work?
Bladder infection symptoms can lead to severe complications unless this condition is diagnosed by urology specialists at the right time. The bladder is a muscular sac that collects urine from the kidneys. As the bladder fills with urine, the sensation to urinate becomes stronger. When the bladder reaches its limit, you may notice a feeling that you need to urinate. If the signal is ignored and the bladder reaches a certain level of fullness, the sphincter will void urine. A healthy individual can control when to hold and release urine. If passing urine is painful, you could have a bladder infection.
Bladder Infections in Women
Bladder infections are commonly known as inflammations of the bladder or cystitis. Women are more prone to urinary tract infections then men because their genital area is more susceptible to bacterial infections. In addition, women have a shorter urethra, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.
Bladder Infections Symptoms
When suffering from bladder infections, both men and women can experience urinary incontinence, microscopic hematuria, gross hematuria, burning while voiding, and urinary retention. Other bladder symptoms include bladder pain, pelvic pain and lower abdomen discomfort. These symptoms may indicate more severe conditions than can be successfully diagnosed and treated by urology specialists.
Cystitis Symptoms
In general, urinary tract infections and cystitis can trigger the symptoms described above. Bladder pain is usually caused by cystitis, which is the medical term for inflammation of the lining of the bladder. This condition occurs when bacteria that live in the bowel enter the bladder through the urethra.
Overactive Bladder Symptoms
Bladder symptoms usually include a burning sensation during urination, foul-smelling urine, low-grade fever, severe abdominal pain and blood in the urine. Other urinary tract infection symptoms are nausea, pelvic pressure, fatigue and urinary retention. Individuals suffering from urinary tract infections can develop an overactive bladder, a type of urinary incontinence that results from sudden contraction of the muscle in the wall of the bladder. Overactive bladder is caused by involuntary bladder contractions that create a sudden need to urinate.
Stress Incontinence Symptoms
Stress incontinence may trigger bladder symptoms as well. As the most common form of urinary incontinence, this condition involves an involuntary loss of urine during exercise, laughing, sneezing and other physical activities.
Causes of a Bladder Infection
Although urinary tract infections may have several causes, they usually occur when bacteria enters the urinary tract through the urethra and begins to reproduce in the urine left in the bladder. These bacteria are usually found in the gastrointestinal tract or in the genital area. Because of the female urethra’s proximity to the vagina, women are more likely to get a bladder infector through sexual intercourse. Those who use a diaphragm or spermicidal agents for birth control are particularly susceptible to urinary tract infections. The lack of estrogen that occurs during menopause can trigger this condition as well. Bladder symptoms may also be caused by surgery involving the urinary tract, kidney stones impeding urine flow, diabetes, pregnancy, and an advanced age. This condition can also occur in men with an enlarged prostate. Herpes, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases can trigger urinary tract infections as well. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics to treat bladder infections caused by bacteria.
Forms of Treatment for Bladder Infections
Some types of bladder infections require special treatment. The most common urologic surgery procedures recommended to those who present bladder symptoms include kidney surgery, kidney stones surgical treatment, prostate surgery and even penis surgery. Cystectomy involves the surgical removal of all or part of the bladder. It is used to treat patients suffering from bladder cancer. After surgery, it is essential to maintain good bladder health to avoid bladder failure, kidney infections and other complications that may occur.
What Causes Bladder Pain?
There are several conditions that may lead to bladder pain and other symptoms associated with urinary tract infections. Interstitial cystitis causes recurring discomfort in the bladder and the pelvic region. People suffering from this condition may experience pressure and intense pain the bladder area, lower back and abdomen. Pain may change in intensity as the bladder empties. Symptoms include discomfort during intercourse and urinary urgency.
Symptoms Associated with Bladder Pain
Bladder pain may also indicate a urinary tract infection. In general, urinary tract infections cause stinging when urinating, cloudy or bloody urine, painful urination and a burning sensation. Individuals suffering from a urinary infection may also experience a sharp pain in the bladder or urethra, tenderness in the abdominal region and a constant urge to urinate, especially at night (nocturia). Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) occurs in men over the age of 40, causing painful urination and urinary frequency.
Bladder Pain and Urinary Incontinence
Bladder pain is often accompanied by number of symptoms such as gross or microscopic hematuria. The urethra is surrounded by a muscle that opens and closes the bladder neck to release or hold the urine in. The loss of bladder control is known as urinary incontinence. This condition occurs when the muscles stretch out over time. Some individuals only experience minor leaks, while others complain about urinary dribbling. You may also lose your ability to urinate due to a blocked urethra. When the bladder slips out of its correct position, pain may be felt. Women with a prolapsed bladder experience urine leakage and pressure in the vagina.
Asking for Professional Help
The symptoms described above may also be triggered by bladder stones that irritate the lining of the bladder, causing minerals in the urine to crystallize. Bladder tumors can lead to abnormal urinary symptoms as well. Any of these signs may indicate a variety of problems affecting the urinary tract. These symptoms are not highly specific, but they do help the urology specialist determine where the urinary tract infection may be located. Therefore, it is important to consult a professional urologist. When treated properly, bladder infections rarely lead to severe complications such as organ damage, dysuria (pain when urinating) and even death. The doctor is the only one who can determine the exact cause of a urinary tract infection and the most effective treatment for your condition.
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