Voiding Dysfunction

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Voiding Dysfunction

It is estimated that as many as 25 million Americans suffer from bladder control problems. Voiding dysfunction is a condition in which the bladder does not function properly. There are several conditions that can lead to a voiding dysfunction.

Symptoms of Voiding Dysfunction

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is defined as the inability to control urine flow. The condition can occur in four forms, stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed urinary incontinence or overflow incontinence.

Stress Incontinence

Urine leakage is caused by an increase in abdominal pressure, such as sneezing, coughing or laughing.

Urge Incontinence

An urge to urinate that occurs suddenly. Patients may be unable to make it to the toilet before leakage occurs.

Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Urinary problems may be a combination of stress and urge incontinence.

Overflow Incontinence

The bladder is unable to empty properly causing the patient to leak and urinate frequently.

Overactive Bladder

This condition is characterized by urinary frequency, urgency or urge incontinence. It can occur in both men and women, but women are affected with the condition more often. Typically, overactive bladder occurs later in life.

Non-Obstructive Urinary Retention

This condition is characterized by the inability to completely empty the bladder. Patients typically produce a weak or dribbling stream of urine.

Mechanical Obstructions

Specific conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), cancer or urethral structures may interfere with the body’s ability to pass urine completely.

Diagnosis

Tests which may be performed to diagnose voiding dysfunction include: a urinalysis, cystoscopy (looking into the bladder), urodynamics (the study of bladder function and urine flow) or a bladder scan (a non-invasive procedure which measures the amount of urine left in the bladder).

Treatments

Non-surgical and Behavioral Techniques – Many non-surgical and behavioral techniques can be used to help treat voiding dysfunction including:

Medication
Kegel exercises
Biofeedback
Timed voiding
Bladder training

Surgery – Several minimally invasive procedures, as well as more extensive surgical procedures, may be necessary to treat voiding dysfunction. Commonly performed procedures include collagen injections, pubovaginal slings, microwave treatments for enlarged prostates (BPH), bladder augmentation or insertion of artificial urinary sphincters. TUCC physicians lead the region in performing robotic ureteral repairs of ureteral strictures and injuries.

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Voiding Dysfunction