Bladder Conditions

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Painful and uncomfortable bladder conditions can affect your quality of life. Fortunately, they can often be treated successfully. You needn’t look far for top-quality healthcare, as the Birmingham Prostate Clinic’s team of renowned experts has extensive experience in treating a range of conditions.

Our team of Consultant Urologists: Mr. Mohammed Belal, Mr. John Parkin, and Mrs. Maya Harris, are experienced in treating bladder pain, stress, and urge incontinence, but also recurring kidney stones, interstitial cystitis, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

“Even though we were going through something life-changing, we felt utterly confident in the whole team at the Birmingham Prostate Clinic. You feel they not only know what they are doing but they are the best at what they do. You can relax a little, having that confidence.” – Bladder cancer patient

Types of Bladder Conditions

Interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome

Interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome are caused when the wall of your bladder has become inflamed. This causes pain, and a need to go to the toilet often and urgently. Professional healthcare providers use both terms to describe the condition and the symptoms associated with it. Patients quality of life is frequently affected and expert advice could improve the condition.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits made up of minerals and salts that can build up inside the kidneys and form crystals and can affect any part of your urinary tract. You’re more at risk of developing kidney stones if you are overweight, have certain medical conditions, eat a high protein low fibre diet, or are taking certain medication. Patients respond well to treatment, which can range from simple pain medications to surgery for complicated cases. Expert advice is also important for the future prevention of stone formation.

Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence affects both women and men. The most common symptom of stress incontinence is urine leakage caused by pressure on the bladder such as when you cough, laugh or sneeze. Stress incontinence is more common in women over the age of 40 and often due to a weak pelvic floor following childbirth. In men, it can be caused by surgery such as the removal of the prostate gland, or by nerve or sphincter damage. We offer a wide range of treatments for both men and women.

Urge Incontinence and Overactive Bladder

Urge incontinence (the loss of bladder control), which is also often referred to as an overactive bladder, is a common condition which causes the bladder to contract suddenly in an uncontrolled way causing urine leakage. Contractions often occur when the bladder is not full.

Approximately one in six people experience some symptoms of an overactive bladder. The most common symptom is a sudden and uncontrollable urge to urinate. Some people experience those urges during the day and night. Others leak urine when they feel the urge to urinate. The term ‘overactive bladder’ refers to a group of symptoms, rather than a disease. We offer various treatments for overactive bladder.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can occur in any part of your urinary system when bacteria enters through the urethra. In most cases, infections occur in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and/or urethra. The problem can become more serious if it spreads to your kidneys. Although women are at greater risk of developing UTIs, they can and do occur in men. We offer a range of treatments for both men and women.

Bladder Pain

The term ‘bladder pain’ can refer to different types of pain which have different causes. You may experience a burning or stinging sensation when you go to the toilet, constant low-level pain in the pelvic area, sharp spasms in your pelvic area, or pain that comes and goes as your bladder fills and empties. Whatever the type of pain you experience, it’s important that you get it diagnosed properly and promptly.

Why Bladder Health Is Important

Your bladder plays a vital role in your body, so it’s important that you keep it healthy. Your kidneys remove waste products and excess fluid from your bloodstream and turn them into urine, which is stored in the bladder until you go to the toilet. In a healthy bladder, the process of filling it with urine, storing it, and releasing it happens as it should.

Various things can impact the health of your bladder, including being overweight, diabetes, constipation, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, a low level of physical activity, some medication, pelvic injury, bladder cancer, and some activities such as sex or using a catheter.

How to Help Reduce the Risks of Bladder Conditions

You can support your bladder health in various ways:

Following a healthy diet – increase your intake of bananas, pears, green beans, whole grains, winter squash, and fluids such as water, an apple or pear juice.
Doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
Maintaining good bowel health to prevent constipation.
Maintaining a healthy weight.
Getting chronic conditions treated.

Symptoms & Signs and When to Seek Medical Advice For Bladder Problems

It’s best not to take chances with your bladder health. Speak to one of our experts if you experience any of the following symptoms of bladder problems:

You experience frequent and/or strong urges to urinate.
Your urine is bloody, cloudy, or smells strongly.
You experience pelvic pain, pressure, or discomfort.
You experience a burning or painful sensation when you go to the toilet.
You pass small amounts of urine frequently.

You may feel apprehensive about speaking to our experts about your bladder problem. Visit our assessments page to find out what to expect from your first appointment.

Treatments For Bladder Problems and Conditions

Birmingham Prostate Clinic offers an advanced range of treatments for a variety of bladder conditions. Among them are various kidney stones, botox injections, the male sling and artificial sphincters for stress incontinence in men, urethral bulking agents, and pubovaginal slings for stress incontinence in women.

We also offer urge incontinence treatments that include behavioral techniques, sophisticated biofeedback, and an effective sacral neuromodulation procedure.

You can find out more about your options on our treatments page. All treatments are detailed and explained depending on the condition.