Urinary Tract

Answer: The urinary tract system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

We are born with two kidneys. People with kidney problems often experience pain in the lower back. This is because the kidneys are located just below the ribs around the middle of the back. The bean-shaped kidneys remove excess liquid and waste from the blood, which are then converted to urine. The kidneys also help keep salts and other substances well-balanced in the bloodstream, as well as produce a hormone that helps red blood cells form.

Two narrow tubes connect the kidneys to the bladder. These tubes, called the ureters, carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder, located behind the pelvic bone, stores urine until removed from the body through the urethra.

In women, urinary tract infections, or bladder infections, are the most frequently occurring condition of the urinary tract system.

Source:

Urinary Tract Infections In Adults. NIDDK. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/utiadult. Accessed 04/06/10.

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Urinary Incontinence in Women

Do any other women wet themselves? I suffer from urge incontinence and sometimes can't make it to the toilet in time it happened to me at the airport last week I found the toilets in time but as I was undoing my belt I completely flooded my Jeans and had to sit in wet pants for the three hour flight on a trash bag to protect the seat, very embarassing. Can anyone else share stories like this? I feel so alone.-- About Women's Health Forum
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The fact is that she is far from alone, more than 13 million people in the United States--male and female, young and old--experience incontinence. Many times it is temporary, and it always results from an underlying medical condition.

Women experience incontinence two times more often than men. Pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, and the structure of the female urinary tract account for this difference. But both women and men can become incontinent from strokes, multiple sclerosis, and physical problems associated with old age.

Older women, more often than younger women, experience incontinence. But incontinence is not inevitable with age. Incontinence is treatable and often curable at all ages. If you experience incontinence, you may feel embarrassed. It may help you to remember that loss of bladder control can be treated. You will need to overcome your embarrassment and see a doctor to learn if you need treatment for an underlying medical condition.

Incontinence in women usually occurs because of problems with muscles that help to hold or release urine. The body stores urine--water and wastes removed by the kidneys--in the bladder, a balloon-like organ. The bladder connects to the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.

During urination, muscles in the wall of the bladder contract, forcing urine out of the bladder and into the urethra. At the same time, sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra relax, letting urine pass out of the body. Incontinence will occur if your bladder muscles suddenly contract or muscles surrounding the urethra suddenly relax.

Adapted from the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

More About Bladder Control for Women

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Urinary Tract Infections

A urinary tract infection or UTI is a bacterial infection that occurs when bacteria invade the urinary tract system; the bacteria multiply throughout the urinary track system. While the majority of urinary tract infections or UTIs are not serious, they often cause severe symptoms such as pain and/or burning upon urination.

The urinary tract system is the body's filtering system for removal of liquid waste. The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.

About half of all women will have at least one UTI in her lifetime, while many women suffer through several infections throughout their lifetime. Women are particularly susceptible to urinary tract infections or UTI. This is because women have a shorter urinary tract than men. The good news: Infections are easily treated with antibiotics. However, some women seem prone to recurrent UTIs than others and for them it can be a frustrating battle.

The most common cause of UTIs are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagina, which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Once these bacteria enter the urethra, they travel upward, causing infection in the bladder and sometimes other parts of the urinary tract.

Sexual intercourse is a common cause of urinary tract infections because the female anatomy can make women more prone to urinary tract infections. During sexual activity, bacteria in the vaginal area are sometimes massaged into the urethra.

Women who change sexual partners or begin having sexual intercourse more frequently may experience bladder or urinary tract infections more often than women who are celibate or in monogamous relationships. Although it is rare, some women get a urinary tract infection every time they have sex.

Another cause of bladder infections or UTI is waiting too long to urinate. The bladder is a muscle that stretches to hold urine and contracts when the urine is released. Waiting too long past the time you first feel the need to urinate can cause the bladder to stretch beyond its capacity. Over time, this can weaken the bladder muscle. When the bladder is weakened, it may not empty completely and some urine is left in the bladder. This may increase the risk of urinary tract infections or bladder infections.

Other factors that also may increase a woman's risk of developing UTI include pregnancy, having urinary tract infections as a child, menopause, or diabetes.

See: 10 Ways To Prevent UTI

Symptoms of UTI or bladder infection are not easy to miss and include a strong urge to urinate that cannot be delayed, which is followed by a sharp pain or burning sensation in the urethra when the urine is released. Most often very little urine is released and the urine that is released may be tinged with blood. The urge to urinate recurs quickly and soreness may occur in the lower abdomen, back, or sides.

This cycle may repeat itself frequently during the day or night--most people urinate about six times a day, when the need to urinate occurs more often a bladder infection should be suspected.

When bacteria enter the ureters and spread to the kidneys, symptoms such as back pain, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting may occur, as well as the previous symptoms of lower urinary tract infection.

Proper diagnosis is vital since these symptoms also can be caused by other problems such as vaginal infections or vulva

. Only your physician can make the distinction and make a correct diagnosis.

How Is a Diagnosis of UTI Made?

The number of bacteria and white blood cells in a urine sample is the basis for diagnosing urinary tract infections. Urine is examined under a microscope and cultured in a substance that promotes the growth of bacteria. A pelvic exam also may be necessary.

Note: If you have recurrent UTIs and bladder infections, you may be interested in purchasing an at-home test for UTI, which is available over-the-counter (OTC) without a prescription. The test consists of a dipstick that changes color when you have a urinary tract infection. The test detects the presence of nitrite. Bacteria changes normal nitrates in the urine to nitrite. The test, which works best on first morning urine, is about 90% reliable.

Compare Prices: At-Home UTI Test Kit

Share Your UTI Story, Prevention Tips, and Pain Management Advice

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