Painful bladder syndromes are often mistaken for recurrent urinary tract infections. The symptoms can include pelvic pain, urgency, bladder overactivity or pain, and urinary frequency and nocturia. Many painful bladder syndromes can be divided into three categories based on the clinical course. Painful bladder syndromes include the diagnoses of interstitial cystitis (IC) and urethral syndrome.

Cystoscopy is an important part of the evaluation for patients where painful bladder syndromes are suspected. This type of examination will often reveal inflammation and abnormalities in the lining of the bladder, and also helps rule-out other causes of the symptoms. The conclusive cause for painful bladder syndromes is unknown therefore there is no known cure. Several treatment modalities, including diet and medications, are available to potentially reduce symptoms and achieve remission.

The symptoms that accompany urethral syndrome are irritative and include: urinary frequency, urgency and burning, suprapubic pain, and a slow urinary stream. Because these symptoms are so common with other urinary problems, other possibilities must be eliminated.

Vaginal prolapse is a condition where the bladder, urethra, rectum, or uterus bulges into the vagina. Women with this problem may feel like there is something falling out of the vagina while others sense increased pelvic pressure. The bulging or dropped organs may make it difficult to empty the bladder or the rectum and engage in vaginal intercourse.

The loss of support by the vaginal muscles causes pelvic organs to prolapse. This weakening of the vagina is associated with multiple or difficult childbirth, however, smoking, obesity, aging, menopause, chronic constipation, genetic predisposition, lung disease, and chronic lifting can also be contributory factors. Prolapse can be treated with surgery or by fitting the vagina with a device called a vaginal pessary. Newer techniques and less invasive approaches have greatly improved the number of successful outcomes for women with these problems.

Urinary incontinence is any leakage of urine or loss of bladder control. In the United States, millions of women suffer from urinary incontinence, and its devastating and embarrassing side effects. Billions of dollars are spent on incontinence protection each year.

The two most common types of urinary incontinence are stress incontinence and overactive bladder. Stress incontinence is caused by a weakening of the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. Women with stress incontinence commonly have urine leakage when they laugh, cough, walk, pick up a heavy object or engage in other exertional activities.

Women with overactive bladder, or urge incontinence, often feel a strong need to go to the bathroom but an inability to get there in time. Other symptoms include urinary frequency and the need to urinate several times during the night. Some women with urge incontinence loose urine when they hear running water, change position, or put their key in the door. Overactive bladder is caused by unexpected contractions of the bladder muscle.

The two types of urinary incontinence are treatable ailments however they are treated differently. It is important to obtain an accurate diagnosis from an expert in the field in order to ensure the proper treatment.