Identifying Common Urology Conditions, Their Symptoms, and Treatment Methods

In order to regulate, guide, and eliminate waste from our pee, our urinary system works extremely hard. This system consists of several moving parts, such as your bladder, ureters, urethra, and even kidneys. Just like any other organs within our bodies, the urinary system could experience various diseases. These conditions or disorders are commonly known as urologic disease or urologic disorders. 

Urology is that branch of medical science which deals with disorders and conditions pertaining to the patients’ urinary system and male genitals. A great percentage of the population suffers from such urological conditions at some or the other point in their lives. However, early detection often ensures better management of symptoms and improves the quality of life of a person.  In this article, we’ll explore common urology conditions, their symptoms, and the treatment methods available to address them.

Most Common Urologic Diseases

There are numerous common urological disorders. The following list represents a sample of some Common Urology Conditions as listed by the American Urological Association Foundation:

Kidney Stones

The most common urologic disease is kidney stones. Stones form in the kidneys when there is crystallisation in urine, with smaller particles aggregating around these crystals and accumulating on them. A very common type of kidney stone includes the calcium type, which is usually made up of calcium oxalate. These stones can obstruct the urine flow and sometimes cause a lot of pain.

Treatment

The treatment for kidney stones varies according to the size and type of the stone. In most cases, small stones can pass once an adequate amount of fluid has been ingested by the body. Larger stones will need medical care to be removed. Treatments include the following:

• Medication: Pain relievers and medications to relax the muscles in the ureter can help pass the stone more comfortably.
• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL): This procedure uses sound waves to break large stones into pieces that can pass with urine.
• Surgery: In some cases, kidney stone removal surgery may be required to remove large or obstructive stones.

Overactive Bladder

An overactive bladder is a urological condition that causes an abrupt and overwhelming need to pee, which occasionally leads to an unintentional loss of urine. The bladder’s failure to hold urine is what causes people who suffer to have an overactive bladder. People suffering from this condition lose their urine involuntarily due to an excessive need to urinate. Your bladder’s muscles may start contracting involuntarily. This may, therefore, affect quality of life, mostly in the elderly. While there are many reasons a person may acquire this condition, some common reasons include tumours, bladder stones, UTIs, diabetes, and neurological disorders.

Overactive Bladder Treatments

Overactive bladder can be treated in many ways. It is often based on the level of reported symptoms and signs. Common treatments include:

• Behavioural therapy: Bladder training and scheduled toilet trips will help to control symptoms.
• Medications: Drugs that relax the bladder muscles, such as anticholinergics, can reduce symptoms.
• Botox injections: For severe ones, Botox is injected into the bladder to lessen the activity of the bladder muscle. 
• Surgery: Surgery is sometimes undertaken when a patient’s bladder capacity needs to be augmented or their bladder pressure decreased.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

It’s the most common urologic condition and often occurs in women. About sixty per cent of women experience some kind of urinary tract infection in their lives. Meanwhile, the total percentage of men afflicted with this condition is around twelve per cent. One of the major symptoms of a urinary tract infection is needing to empty your bladder frequently or experiencing a burning sensation. Your doctor will most likely require a urine culture in order to accurately diagnose the same. Fortunately, this issue is relatively easy to treat, as the lines of antibiotic treatments quite frequently sort things out.

Treatment

Antibiotics are commonly used to treat urinary tract infections. Of course, a lot of water must be consumed to promote the removal of germs from the urinary system. In chronic situations, doctors may give a longer course of antibiotics or recommend lifestyle adjustments to avoid being sick again.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Prostate enlargement that is not cancerous is referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Because its symptoms can be bothersome and worsen with age, it is more frequent in males than any other condition. BPH prostate usually becomes more common around the age of 40. Between 8% to 60% of males 90 years of age or older are estimated to have BPH. An enlarged prostate gland that prevents the urethra from passing through it and helps in the movement of urine from the bladder out of the penis is the primary cause of BPH.

Treatment

There are several therapies for BPH in the prostate. Patients with moderate symptoms might make lifestyle modifications such as drinking less fluid before bedtime. The most frequent treatment option is medication, which reduces the size of the prostate or relaxes the muscles around the bladder. In severe situations, surgical removal of a portion of the prostate or radiosurgery to reduce the prostate is typically required.

Urinary incontinence (UI) 

Age-related loss of bladder control is referred to as Urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence can range in intensity from a slight leaking of urine after coughing or sneezing to total incapacity to regulate urination. According to demographic research carried out in various nations, the prevalence rate of UI in the elderly population ranges from 25% to 45%. Your regular routine, underlying medical issues, or physical issues are the causes of UI. Some meals and beverages may also cause UI. A number of underlying medical issues, including hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy, childbirth, ageing, and menopause, may potentially be the cause of persistent UI.

Treatment

It depends upon the type but still treatment is possible. For stress incontinence, pelvic floor exercises are done by Kegels, by which the muscles strengthen. Medications, bladder training, and lifestyle changes help with urge incontinence; in case it is quite severe, then surgery is required in any case for a kind of support to the bladder or to the urethra.

Prostate Cancer

This is one of the major causes of cancer death among men. Prostate cancer often begins by occurring when your prostate cells begin to grow in an abnormal way. The ideal treatment for this kind of cancer is detection, and that is why men must be ready to undergo tests on their prostate from time to time.

Treatment

Prostate cancer treatment depends on which stage the disease has reached:

• Active surveillance: Initially, the doctor can follow the course of the cancer to ascertain if it progresses before he starts the treatment.
• Surgery: Later, in advanced stages, the removal of the prostate gland may require surgery.
• Radiation therapy: This treatment uses high-energy rays to target and kill cancer cells.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

The inability to obtain or sustain an erection strong enough for sexual activity is known as erectile dysfunction. Cardiovascular problems, diabetes, or psychological conditions like stress and worry are some of the possible causes.

Treatment

There are several treatment options available for ED:

• Medications: Drugs like sildenafil (Viagra) are commonly used to treat ED by increasing blood flow to the penis.
• Lifestyle changes: Weight loss, exercise, and quitting smoking can improve ED.
• Counselling: Therapy can help address the psychological causes of ED.

Conclusion

Any person can get urological problems at any point in their lives. Age, gender, and even ethnic appearance cannot be distinguished by it. Knowing the signs and symptoms of common urological problems makes it easier to get medical attention when necessary to prevent consequences. The quality of life may be significantly enhanced by a thorough diagnosis and appropriate treatment, whether it is for male urological issues such as erectile dysfunction, BPH, or the management of an overactive bladder.  Therefore, proper diagnosis by visiting urology specialists is crucial to ensure getting perfect treatment and curbing further health disorders.

This blog has been approved by Dr Raveendra Reddy, Urologist.