Natural Bladder Control for Men and Women

The bladder is found in the lower part of the abdomen. Your bladder is a hollow pelvic organ with flexible, muscular walls that stores urine. In males, it is superior to the prostate, and separated from the rectum by the rectovesical excavation. In females, the bladder is separated from the rectum by the rectouterine excavation, and it is separated from the uterus by the vesicouterine excavation. Bladder problems are not a natural consequence of aging.

Incontinence is uncontrollable leaking of urine from the bladder. Incontinence is both a health problem and a social problem. Incontinence is often worse if you are overweight, have a cough or a urine infection and after the menopause. Incontinence occurs if the bladder muscles contract or the muscles surrounding the urethra relax without warning.

Symptoms of a bladder infection may include going to the bathroom frequently, passing blood in the urine, cloudy and odorous urine, increased spasticity in the lower extremities, fever and chills. A person with any of the following symptoms should see a doctor: blood in the urine (urine that looks bright red or rusty), pain during urination, passing urine often, or feeling the need to urinate even though nothing comes out. Restricting alcoholic beverages, carbonated sodas, coffee and other caffeinated products, and beverages and foods with artificial sweeteners appears to reduce symptoms in some people.

Overactive bladder is a significant health problem. An overactive bladder is more common in women, and in older adults, but can be found in younger folks and in men. Overactive bladder (OAB) is a treatable medical condition caused by involuntary bladder muscle spasms. The bladder muscle can be such that it cannot contract (ie it is always relaxed) or overactive and the sphincters (especially, the voluntarily controlled one) uncontrollable and either too relaxed or too tight.

There are three key symptoms of an overactive bladder. You may have only the first two, or all three.

1- Frequency, needing to empty your bladder more frequently than usual. Going to the toilet more than eight times in 24 hours is usually
regarded as unusual.

2- Urgency, the sudden feeling that you have to go right now.

3- Urgency incontinence. This means that your need to go is so urgent that you lose control before
you can get to a toilet.

Of all those who have an overactive bladder, 40% have urgency incontinence.
Apart from overactive bladder, another common cause of bladder leaking is called stress incontinence.

The typical person with overactive bladder is an adult who urinates more than 8 times per 24 hours with a voiding volume averaging approximately 150ml. Pharmacological therapy for treatment of overactive bladder is based on the use of muscarinic receptor antagonists. As common a problem as overactive bladder is, patients seldom mention it to health care providers.

Cancer occurs when cells in the bladder begin to grow uncontrollably affecting the normal function of the organ, and, sometimes surrounding organs. In fact, patients with bladder cancer sometimes have a similar type of cancer in the lining of the kidneys,ureters, or urethra. Therefore, a complete
evaluation of the urinary system is recommended for patients diagnosed with a cancer of the kidney, bladder, ureter, or urethra. Treatment recommendations for some patients may be influenced by the type of cancer. Fortunately, when bladder cancer symptoms are diagnosed early, bladder cancer is treatable with a variety of treatment options.

Treatment options depend on the stage of bladder cancer. Treatment for urinary incontinence varies according to the type of incontinence. It can
include both drugs and surgery. The chance of recovery from the disease (prognosis) and the choice of treatment for bladder cancer depend on the stage of the cancer (whether it is just in the lining of the bladder or has spread to other places in the body) and the patient's general state of health. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.