The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder and urethra. Urine is created within the kidneys, which filter toxins out of the blood for excretion in the urine. The urine then travels through the ureter into the urinary bladder, which expands to collect increasing amounts of urine. Upon urination, urine travels through the urethra and out of the body. Female urology problems can develop from disorders or diseases that affect the urinary tract.
Urinary Tract Infections
A common female urology problem is a urinary tract infection -- a bacterial infection of the epithelial cells that line the urinary tract. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the majority of urinary tract infections are caused by E. coli bacteria. These microbes, found in feces, can migrate into the urethra and proliferate, leading to infection. Left untreated, the infection can travel upward and eventually reach the bladder or kidneys. Women with urinary tract infections commonly experience a frequent urge to urinate, pain or burning during urination, and they may also develop feverish symptoms due to the infection. Urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotics to kill the offending bacteria, and discomfort is managed with pain-killing medication.
Interstitial Cystitis
Another female urology problem is interstitial cystitis, also called painful bladder syndrome. Interstitial cystitis is characterized by a thickening and stiffening of the bladder walls, leading to difficulty in expansion of the bladder to hold urine. As a result, women often experience abdominal pain that may worsen as the bladder fills with urine, and they may experience pain during vaginal intercourse and menstruation, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Patients with interstitial cystitis may receive a number of treatments, ranging from medications to ease pain to procedures meant to restore the elasticity of the bladder walls. In addition, lifestyle modifications such as changes in diet may ease the symptoms of interstitial cystitis and increase patient quality of life.
Urethral Syndrome
Urethral syndrome is a female urology problem characterized by pain in the urethra. Women with urethral syndrome develop the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but they do not have an underlying bacterial or viral infection causing the discomfort. The syndrome may develop from damage to the urethra caused by exposure to radiation, chemotherapy, chemicals in spermicide, soaps or perfumes, according to New York University Langone Medical Center. Women with a personal history of sexually transmitted disease are at an increased risk of developing urethral syndrome. Depending on the cause of the discomfort, doctors may recommend that patients avoid certain chemical irritants, though urethral syndrome may also require medication or even surgery. Women can help prevent the development of urethral syndrome by avoiding the use of harsh chemicals on the genitals, urinating after sexual intercourse and maintaining proper hydration.
