Other Bladder Related Conditions

There are some conditions that may appear to be an overactive bladder control problem but are not, including:

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infections are perhaps the most common form of condition to be confused as an overactive bladder control problem. Occurring mostly in women but in some men, the term UTI refers to a variety of conditions including Cystitis (infection of the bladder), pyelonephritis (infection of the kidney), and urethritis (infection of the urethra).

UTIs are caused by bacteria (E.Coli) attaching itself to the walls of the bladder and growing. If this bacteria remains in the bladder and is not flushed out properly when you urinate infection can occur.

Symptoms
Symptoms are quickly noticeable (unlike overactive bladder):
• Frequent need to pass urine just as if you had the symptoms of an overactive bladder
• Painful burning sensation when passing urine, and often only a small amount of urine is passed
• Cloudy urine, lower back or abdominal pain, and blood in the urine

Prostate Problems

The prostate is a donut shaped gland at the bottom of the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that takes urine from the bladder to the outside. Occurring only in men, the prostate's function is to produce seminal fluid, which is mixed with sperm to make semen for reproduction. As men get older the prostate gland may increase in size which may cause problems as the urethra becomes pinched or kinked. This can affect urination and the condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Symptoms
• A weak and interrupted flow of urine
• The need to urinate frequently during both the day and night
• A burning sensation when urinating
• A constant feeling that the bladder is not empty even after urination
• Difficulty in beginning to urinate even when the bladder feels full
• An urgent need to urinate straight away
• Difficulty in urinating at all

Bladder Stones

Bladder stones may come from the kidneys but most of the time they happen in the bladder. They can block the flow of urine in the urethra from the bladder to the outside.

Symptoms
• Pain when urinating
• Blood in the urine towards the end of urination
• Inability to urinate

If you think that you suffer from any of the above symptoms, discuss it with your doctor, because they can become serious if not taken care of immediately.