It is a common misconception that urologists are the doctors who mostly perform vasectomies or check men’s prostates. While we do these things at Urology specialists of Ohio, there are many more conditions we treat, many of which are very common in women.
Women tend to see their GYN for health concerns that should actually be treated by a urologist. While many gynecologists may refer you to a urologist, some may suggest treatment on their own. For the most thorough and long term treatment plans, however, it is best for women to see a urologist for anything relating to the bladder, urination, or their kidneys.
Common Urinary Health Conditions Treated in Women
While men are more likely to get kidney stones than women are, there are a number of health conditions we treat that are more prevalent in women. Here are a few of the most common conditions we see in women and signs you may need to look out for.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
UTIs are very common in women. In fact, about half of all women will have at least one UTI in her lifetime. This is because women have shorter urinary tracts than men. Symptoms of a UTI include:
Dysuria- difficult or painful urination
Cloudy Urine
Urine odor
Urgency and frequency
Fever or chills
Fatigue or irritability
Abdominal discomfort
Hematuria
Urinary Incontinence
35% of women over the age of 60 are incontinent. Incontinence comes with a number of physical health concerns but it has also been found that difficulty with bladder control in women can result in higher rates of depression and limit sexual activity. There are a number of non-invasive treatment options for urinary incontinence as well as surgical treatment.
Hematuria
Hematuria is when you have blood in your urine, which may cause urine to appear bright red or cola colored, though sometimes the urine appears normal and blood is detected on a lab test. If you see any discoloration or signs of blood when you urine it is best to see a urologist right away. This is often a sign of other conditions in women such as a UTI.
Bladder Cancer
Over 17,000 women are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year. We don’t say that to scare you, but to remind women to be aware of the signs of bladder cancer and not to hesitate to see a urologist. Signs and symptoms of bladder cancer include the following:
Blood in urine (hematuria)
Frequent urination.
Painful urination.
Back pain.
Interstitial Cystitis (IC)
This is often referred to as painful bladder syndrome. 80% of the patients we see for IC are women. This is an inflammatory bladder condition that is marked by pain and pressure originating from the bladder associated with urinary urge and frequency.
Looking For a Urology Doctor?
In addition to their GYN it is important for women, especially as they age, to have a urology doctor in the Springfield, Ohio area, as well. Many common health concerns in women can be treated most effectively by a urologist!