Urinary Tract System

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

A benign enlargement of the prostate gland begins normally after age 50 probably secondary to the effects of male hormones. If significant enlargement occurs, it may pinch off the urethra making urination difficult or impossible. Though the prostate continues to grow during most of a man's life, the enlargement doesn't usually cause problems until late in life. BPH rarely causes symptoms before age 40, but more than half of men in their sixties and as many as 90 percent in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection for sexual intercourse. In 1998, breakthrough drug Viagra came on the market for the treatment of this condition. In older men, ED usually has a physical cause, such as disease, injury or side effects to other drugs. Any disorder that affects nerves or impairs blood flow has the potential to cause ED. ED is treatable at any age and more men have been seeking treatment and returning to normal sexual activity with improved treatments. An estimated 15 million to 30 million men are affected by ED.

Hyperphosphatemia

Hyperphosphatemia is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is an abnormally elevated level of phosphate in the blood. Often, calcium levels are lowered (hypocalcemia) due to precipitation of phosphate with the calcium in tissues. It can be caused by hypoparathyroidism due to the lack of PTH effect of inhibiting renal reabsorption of phosophate. It is also commonly seen in chronic renal failure. High phosphate levels can be avoided with phosphate binders and dietary restriction of phosphate. This can also be caused by taking oral sodium phosphate solutions prescribed for bowel prepration for colonoscopy in children. Signs and symptoms include ectopic calcification, secondary hyperparathyroidism and renal osteodystrophy.

Interstitial Cystitis

A chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder, the cause of interstitial cystitis is unknown and occurs more commonly in females. It is characterized by urinary frequency (as often as every 10 minutes), urgency, pressure and/or pain in the bladder and/or pelvis. Pain typically increases as the bladder fills and reduces after voiding. However some patients report pain with urination, often in the urethra.

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence (UI) is the accidental leaking of urine and is caused by muscles not functioning properly. Stress incontinence is a type of UI caused by sneezing, coughing, laughing, or other movements that put stress on the bladder and is the result of a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, those which hold the urethra closed. Overactive bladder is also a type of UI and is caused by the involuntary contraction of bladder muscles. The female anatomy, along with the stresses of pregnancy and childbirth, make women much more likely to have UI than men. Many people are embarrassed about this problem and do not tell their doctor, though treatments are readily available. Urinary incontinence is quite common, affecting over 12 million adults.