Definition
Problems with urination can occur in various forms. The exact problems must be differentiated according to type, frequency, pain, timing and accompanying symptoms. In general, urination problems can take the following forms:
Causes
The causes of any problem with urination are many and varied. Pain when urinating often occurs as a symptom of inflammation of the urinary tract. The urethra, bladder, ureter or kidney itself can be affected by an inflammation.
This is a typical clinical picture, especially in women who are significantly more susceptible to inflammation of the urinary tract. The pathogens can be bacterial and viral, but also fungi. Often it is intestinal bacteria that find their way to the urinary tract due to a lack of hygiene, for example.
But also venereal diseases and fungal diseases can cause inflammation and problems with urination. Especially at the beginning of urination there is a burning pain. Irritation of the urinary tract can also cause pain, for example in the case of urinary stones, minor injuries, after removal of a bladder catheter and, in rare cases, tumors.
In men, urinary tract infection is also possible, but more rarely. An inflammation of the prostate can be the cause of pain in this case. Especially older men can be affected by frequent urge to urinate and problems emptying the bladder.
Male patients over 50 years of age develop an enlargement of the prostate gland in almost 50% of cases over time, so that urination is affected. Over time, the bladder muscles also weaken, so that continence and urination are slightly reduced with age. Very rare are problems with urination caused by damage to a nerve, for example after a herniated disc.
Many patients regularly take medication, for example for high blood pressure, without knowing that increased urination is a typical side effect. Increased urination at night, called nocturia, is also often caused by an interplay of (drug-induced) increased urine production and incomplete urination due to bladder weakness. The most important difference between the male and female anatomy of this area is the different length of the urethra.
In men it is about 20 cm long, in women only about 4 cm. This means that women are much more susceptible to germs rising into the bladder and thus to infections. It is important for women not to hypothermia the pelvis and lower back in winter.
In addition, good hygiene during toilet visits and sexual intercourse is essential for women to keep bacteria away from the urethra. As a rule, women are less frequently affected by stagnant or frequent urination than men. The muscles of the urinary bladder can also weaken in them. However, prostate problems are not an option for women.
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