Urinary problems in females: Overview

Most people will have some kind of urinary problem or injury in their lifetime. The common urinary issues include Urinary Tract Infection, Urinary Incontinence, Kidney Stones, Stress Incontinence. Urinary issues are more common in women than in men. Frequent urge to urinate without passing much urine is one of the most common symptoms.

Few cancer treatments lower sex hormone levels in the body. In women, these hormones are estrogen and progesterone. Low levels of sex hormones can sometimes cause urinary problems in women, including infections and incontinence. Not everyone who has low levels of sex hormones due to cancer treatment develops urinary problems. In research  1 in 10 women (10%) had problems but the true figure may be higher.

The number of women who have had breast cancer and develop urinary tract infections or cystitis is between 5 and 8 out of 100 (5 to 8%). Difficulty in passing urine is a common problem. It can be caused by conditions that affect the kidneys, bladder or prostate gland (in men). Urinary tract infections, prostate problems, and kidney stones are common triggers for this problem to develop. Sometimes having a bladder control problem means you may have a serious underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease.

Common symptoms of the urinary problem include:

• Burning sensation when urinating
• Frequent urge to urinate without passing much urine
• Feeling such as  cannot completely empty your bladder
• Blood in urine Cloudy, bad smelling urine
• Urinary frequency  urinating more than 8 times per day
• Urinary urgency  the need to urinate immediately
• Nocturia – urinating in excess of twice at night
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• The sensation of incomplete bladder emptying
• A bulge or lump in the vagina

If you are suffering from the same, it is best that you consult a gynecologist at the earliest. Ignoring your signs and symptoms can complicate your health condition.