The bladder is the organ that collects urine and notifies the brain of the need to empty the contents. Many diseases and conditions interfere with the way the bladder functions and responds. Some issues are treated with medications, while other disorders or diseases require surgical intervention. Conditions of the bladder range from mild and uncomfortable to life-threatening.
Infections
The urinary tract removes liquid waste from the body as it is processed from the kidneys to the ureters, then to the bladder and out through the urethra. An infection can occur at any level of the tract. Symptoms of infection in the kidneys include a high fever, nausea, chills, vomiting and pain in the upper back and side. Indications of a bladder infection include a low-grade fever, pelvic pressure, lower abdominal discomfort and frequent urges to urinate. An infection in the urethra manifests with burning pain upon urination.
Treatment for urinary tract infections, or UTIs, includes antibacterial medications such as amoxicillin, ampicillin and ciprofloxacin. Most UTIs respond to antibiotic treatment within a couple of days, but the course of therapy is usually a minimum of a week. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse reports that four out of five women who have had three UTIs will likely have another within 18 months of the last one.
Treatment for recurring UTIs includes long-term antibiotic treatment, an antibiotic following sexual intercourse or a short course of one to two days at the first sign of symptoms.
Bladder Cancer
The bladder stores urine made from waste in the blood that passes through the kidneys. As the bladder fills with urine, the urge to empty the bladder increases. Symptoms that may be caused by bladder cancer include the frequent urge to urinate without producing any flow, bloody urine, lower back pain and painful urination.
Three types of bladder cancer are: transitional cell carcinoma, which begins in the innermost tissue of the bladder; squamous cell carcinoma, which begins in the squamous cells of the bladder following an extended infection; and adenocarcinoma, which begins in the glandular cells after long-term inflammation, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The tests to determine the presence of bladder cancer include a CT scan, urinalysis, and a cystoscopy, in which tissue samples can be obtained for microscopic evaluation. The chance of recovery from bladder cancer depends on the stage and type of cancer cells.
Urinary Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence experienced by women, reports MedlinePlus, a website published by the National Institutes of Health. Urinary incontinence is the inability to hold and control the urge to urinate and the passage of urine from the bladder. Weakened sphincter and pelvic muscles, which leads to incontinence, are often the result of multiple pregnancies, prostate surgery, obesity and chronic coughing.
Treatments for urinary incontinence include the options of medication, retraining pelvic muscles, behavioral changes and surgery as a last resort. Few complications are reported with urinary incontinence treatments.
