Bladder Articles

I have lots of urinary tract infections, what can I do?

There are numerous things that could be causing your recurrent UTIs. It could be your age or other health conditions so it’s definitely worth visiting your GP for further assessment. I’m sure you are already doing the right things, like increasing your fluid intake, but if things do continue to cause pain down below you should ask your GP about assessing your urine culture or ultrasound scans. After this, a referral to a urologist might be helpful.

Does BPH (prostate) treatment cause side effects?

The side effects of any treatment differ depending on the size of your prostate. There haven’t been any tests to compare the effects of the different types of treatment and choosing one that is thought to have fewer side effects may mean that it is less effective. For example, some of the new treatments have a low risk of sexual side effects, however long-term follow-up is missing and often a repeat procedure might be needed. It’s best to speak to your urologists to set out the pros and cons before you choose which treatment is best for you. 

Are my diuretics working?

These tablets aim to reduce the excess water and salt in your body. By reducing the amount of fluid going around your body, they help to reduce blood pressure. After this initial stage of getting rid of the surplus amounts, the tablets work to stabilise these things in your body and keep you healthy. If you have started to wee less after taking the tablets for some time, you do not need to worry. This is a sign that you have the right amount of water and salt in your body! 

I am experiencing diarrhoea. Could this be causing my bladder issues?

Yes, if you are having problems with your bowels it could be having a knock-on effect on your bladder. Inflammation in the bowel can cause increased sensation and feelings of urgency. So, resolving the diarrhoea could help you if you feel like you need to wee but are unable to pass. There are treatments that can reduce bladder sensation, like antimuscarinics and beta-3 agonists, but you need to speak to your doctor about taking these as they can affect the gut. 

Why do I need to pee more at night than in the day?

If you are going to the toilet more at night, this is not a bladder problem but something that is down to the bodily functions that make urine. It might be that your body is handling the production of urine differently when you are lying down compared to when you are standing up. The best thing to do about this is to be careful about your fluid intake at night and avoid salty or high-calorie food before bedtime. 

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