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“I don’t need you to remind me of my age. I have a bladder to do that for me.”

— Stephen Fry

Bladder Conditions

Some of the information provided contains graphic, medical images which individuals may find upsetting

We normally are not aware of our bladder except when it is full. The bladder muscle and the nerve supply work together and accommodate increasing volume of urine without any rise in the pressure, until the bladder reaches its capacity.

Bladder dysfunction can have a serious impact on individual’s quality of life and can affect their ability to carry out their job and interact with people.

Bladder conditions may present with any of the following:

Overactive Bladder

Having to urinate frequently & Urinary urgency – Needing to rush to get to the toilet to urinate. It may be related to excessive coffee/ Tea, fizzy drinks etc and can be controlled by cutting back on these and undertaking bladder training. You may also require medication to relax bladder muscle.

Incontinence

Leakage of urine without any control. Usually it is small amounts but can be flooding causing embarrassing situation. The type of leakage can be either urge leak due to overactive bladder or stress leak due to weak pelvic floor/sphincter. Significant improvement can be obtained by losing weight in obese patients, and carrying out pelvic floor exercises. Wearing pads is a temporary measure and may require surgical procedures.

Urinary infection

Cystitis: More common in women due to closeness of urethra to other passages (Vagina & rectum). Preventive measures include maintaining good fluid intake, hygienic measures and emptying bladder after intercourse. Recurrent infections may require prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Conservative measures include use of Cranberry extract, D’Mannose etc.

Bladder pain

Can be due to a condition called Interstitial Cystitis. Patient get symptoms of cystitis associated with bladder pain and urine tests do not show bacteria. There may be blood in the urine and cystoscopy and biopsies may be needed for diagnosis.

Blood in the urine (haematuria)

Bladder cancer can sometimes present with this symptom and should not be ignored. Usual investigations include scans- ultrasound, CT, Urine cytology and Cystoscopy (inspection of the bladder with a telescopic instrument).

Most bladder symptoms can be treated with simple measures and medication.

Meet Our Team

  • Mr Bernard Potluri

    Mr Bernard Potluri

    Our Surgeon

  • Dr. Shashi Gopinath

    Dr. Shashi Gopinath

    Anaesthetist

  • Dr. Venkat Shenoy

    Dr. Venkat Shenoy

    Anaesthetist

  • Jo Nualart

    Jo Nualart

    Medical Secretary

  • Sharon Lambe

    Sharon Lambe

    Medical Secretary

Further bladder related information

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Please find below links to information leaflets and questionnaires from British association of urological surgeons explaining the tests/ procedures on your bladder.

Latest bladder related news

FDA Approves First Gene Therapy for Bladder Cancer Patients with BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer  had limited treatment options other than bladder removal surgery. The approval of Adstiladrin is therefore a great advance in the current treatment landscape and provides a novel treatment option.

Your bladder health is linked to your bowel health. If you have bladder leaks, you may notice they get worse when you are constipated. That’s because when you are constipated, your colon gets larger and places more pressure on your bladder. This can make you feel like you have to pass urine more urgently and…

Learn more about your bladder health and how to keep your bladder healthy! The bladder is a hollow, balloon shaped organ, and is mostly made of muscle. On average, the bladder holds about two cups of urine (about 16 ounces). When the bladder is empty it looks like a deflated balloon. The shape of a…

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