Hesperian Health Guides
Other Problems of the Urine System
HealthWiki > Where Women Have No Doctor > Chapter 23: Problems of the Urine System > Other Problems of the Urine System
Blood in the urine
If your urine has blood in it, and if there are no other signs of a bladder or kidney infection, you may have bladder or kidney stones (see below). Or you may have one of these diseases, if they are common in your community:
- Bilharzia (blood flukes, schistosomiasis) can cause permanent damage to the urine system if it is not treated early enough. See a health worker trained in problems of the urine system for treatment, and to learn how to prevent bilharzia from happening again. For more information about bilharzia, see Where There Is No Doctor or another general medical book.
- Tuberculosis (TB) can damage the bladder and kidneys.
Kidney or bladder stones
These are small hard stones that form in the kidney. If they leave the kidney and move through the urine system, they can get stuck and block the flow of urine. This can be painful.
Signs:
- Sudden, very bad pain:
Other signs are:
- Blood in the urine. This can happen if the stones injure the inside of the urine system.
- Difficulty passing urine. This can happen if a stone blocks the tubes.
Treatment:
- Drink large amounts of liquid (at least 1 or 2 cups every 30 minutes) to help move the stone through the urine system.
- Take a pain medicine.
- If you have a fever or other signs of infection, start the medicines for kidney infection.
Sometimes blocked urine tubes become infected. If the pain is very bad or infection signs do not improve with antibiotics, get medical help
Need to pass urine often
A particular food (such as citrus or spicy peppers) or caffeine drink (such as tea or coffee) may irritate the bladder and cause you to pass urine often. Avoiding them may help.
This may happen because:
- muscles that support the urine system have become weak. The “squeezing exercise” may help strengthen these muscles.
- a growth (like a fibroid) in your abdomen is pushing against the bladder so it cannot hold much urine.
- you have a bladder infection.
- you have diabetes.
- a medicine you take makes you urinate more, such as some medicines to control high blood pressure.
More Information
growthsLeaking urine
Less control of urine (incontinence)
Muscles in and around the bladder can weaken after childbirth or from aging. If this happens, urine may leak out when other muscles in the lower belly push on the bladder during sex or while laughing, coughing, sneezing, or lifting. The “squeezing exercise” may help.
Urine leaking from the vagina (fistula)
When urine leaks all the time from the vagina, there may be a hole between the vagina and bladder. This serious problem can happen when childbirth is difficult and lasts too long. The baby’s head may get stuck and press so long on the skin between the vagina and bladder that a hole (fistula) opens up there. (A fistula can also open between the rectum and the vagina, letting stool leak out.)
After the birth, the fistula lets urine leak out all the time. It will not heal or close by itself. To stay dry, the person has to clean themself continuously, and wear cloths or pads like those for menstruation.
Without an operation or other treatment to repair it, fistulas can cause serious problems. Partners, family, and friends may stay away from the person because they smell of urine or stool. People with fistulas may not be able to work and earn money and may feel extremely embarrassed and ashamed.
Rape or violent sexual attacks, such as a weapon being pushed into the vagina, can cause similar injuries and fistulas. Anyone with these types of fistulas will need support and counseling about the sexual violence, as well as surgery to repair the fistula and other injuries to their genitals.
Treatment:
If you have leaking urine or stool after giving birth, seek medical help right away.
Younger bodies are more likely to have problems giving birth, including fistula. Help young people avoid pregnancy, and delay marriage of girls under 18.
After giving birth, if you are leaking urine, talk with a health worker as soon as possible to find out about hospitals where the fistula can be repaired. You should get the fistula repaired as soon as possible. If you are leaking urine and cannot get to the hospital quickly, the health worker may know how to put in a plastic or rubber tube (catheter) through the urine hole into the bladder. This tube will drain the urine and may help the fistula heal. But you must still go to the hospital. When you get there, the doctor will examine you to see if you need an operation to repair the fistula.
Because treatment is now available, you do not have to live with fistula!
Prevention:
- Getting prenatal care during the pregnancy can help you avoid problems that cause fistula or know ahead of time if it will be best to give birth in a hospital.
- If giving birth at home and labor lasts more than 12 hours, go to a medical center that has the resources to prevent fistula.
- Giving birth with a trained, experienced midwife or health worker makes fistula less likely.
- Waiting more time between one pregnancy and the next lets your muscles get strong again in between births.
The squeezing exercise
This exercise can help strengthen weak muscles that cause you to leak urine. First, learn how to do it when you are urinating. As the urine comes out, squeeze the muscles in your pelvis until the urine stops. Hold the squeeze for 3 seconds, then relax. Your belly, legs, and buttocks should not move. After you learn which muscles to squeeze, only do the exercise when you are not urinating. Try to do this at least 4 times a day, 10 squeezes each time. Doing the squeezing exercise every day helps keep muscles strong and can prevent problems later in life. This can be done anywhere and no one will know.
If you leak urine and this exercise does not help, get advice from a health worker trained in women’s health. You may need surgery or other treatment.