Urinary disorders vary in severity from a mild annoyance to sometimes life-threatening conditions. Some common urinary conditions include incontinence, urinary tract infections, and kidney stones. Symptoms of urinary problems vary per condition, however, some indications of a urinary condition may be: abdominal pain, lower back pain, discolored urine, painful urination, frequent urination, painful urination, and urgent urination.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are quite common. A urinary tract infection is an infection of any part of the urinary tract: the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Women are more likely to get urinary tract infections than men, however, both men and women can be affected. Women have a shorter urethra than men and therefore has as a shorter distance for bacteria to reach the bladder. Sexual activity can also increase the risk of contracting a urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections are most commonly seen in the lower part of the urinary tract, the urethra, and the bladder. These infections occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract and proliferate. Symptoms of urinary tract infections include strong urgency to urinate, frequent urination, passing small amounts of urine, discolored urine, strong-smelling urine, and pelvic pain. Urinary tract infections may have more specific signs and symptoms depending on the area of the urinary tract that is affected. Typical biomedical treatment of urinary tract infections includes a course of antibiotics.