Genitourinary disorders

Genitourinary disorders are illnesses that occur when the urinary organs and genital organs are not functioning properly. These disorders may be the result of aging, illness, or injury.

There are many organs involved in urination, including two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder, two sphincter muscles, and the urethra.

The kidneys, a pair of organs located on the left and right side of the abdomen, are an essential component of the urinary tract. The kidneys are responsible for removing toxins, chemicals, and waste products from the blood.

Urine then leaves the kidneys and travels down two tubes called ureters. The muscles in the ureter walls constantly tighten and relax to bring urine into the bladder. Small amounts of urine enter the bladder approximately every 10-15 seconds.

The bladder is a hollow muscular organ. The bladder stretches until it is full with urine. Healthy adults can hold up to 16 ounces (two cups) of urine in their bladders for two to five hours. Muscles, called sphincters, prevent urine from leaking out of the bladder.

When the bladder is full, nerves send a message to the brain, which then causes the patient to feel the urge to urinate.

During urination, the brain signals the muscles in the bladder to contract and the sphincter muscles to relax. This causes urine to empty out of the bladder.

Examples of genitourinary disorders include interstitial cystitis, neurogenic bladder, kidney stones, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), prolapsed uterus, urinary incontinence, and urinary tract infection (UTI). In addition to causing urinary problems, many of these conditions may also affect the reproductive organs including the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and vagina in women and the testicles, epididymis (tubular organ where sperm collect after leaving the testis), prostate gland, and penis in males.

Treatment of genitourinary disorders depends on the specific type and severity of the disorder. If left untreated, some disorders, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), may lead to infertility. Therefore, patients who have symptoms of genitourinary disorders should visit their healthcare providers as soon as possible.

Bladder disorders, bladder infection, bladder irrigation, epidiymitis, frequency-urgency-dysuria syndrome, neurogenic bladder, orchitis, painful bladder syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID, underactive bladder, urethral inflammation, urethritis, urine acidification, urinary retention, urinary tract defects, urinary tract infection, UTI.