Education

Frequent Questions

What are the warning signs of a bladder problem?

  • Leakage of urine, which prevents activities.
  • Leakage of urine causing embarrassment.
  • Leakage of urine which began or continued after an operation (hysterectomy, cesarean section, prostate surgery, etc.).
  • Inability to urinate (retention of urine).
  • Urinating more frequently than usual without a proven bladder infection.
  • Needing to rush to the bathroom and/or losing urine if you do not arrive in time.
  • Pain related to filling the bladder and/or pain related to urination in the absence of a bladder infection.
  • Frequent bladder infections.
  • Progressive weakness of the urinary stream with or without a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
  • Abnormal urination or changes in urination related to a nervous system abnormality such as stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, etc.

I think I have a urinary tract infection. What should I do?

Please contact our office and speak with a nurse regarding your symptoms. Generally speaking, you will be asked to make an appointment to come in to the office at which time your urine will be examined, you will meet with a physician or one of their assistants, and if necessary, an antibiotic will be ordered for you.

What is acute urinary retention (AUR)?

Some men find that they are suddenly unable to pass urine even though they feel the urge to do so. This is because the bladder muscles have to strain to push urine through the narrowed urethra. This situation can be very painful. You will need to visit your doctor or hospital to have a catheter inserted. A catheter is a slim plastic tube that is gently passed up through the urethra into the bladder to drain away the urine.

What causes benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?

As men get older their prostate gets bigger. The increase varies from man to man. The medical term for an enlarged prostate is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)