Bladder Diseases (Print Version)

The bladder is a hollow organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine. Many conditions can affect bladder function. Some common ones are

Infection - a urinary tract infection in the bladder is also known as cystitis
Urinary incontinence - loss of bladder control
Interstitial cystitis - a chronic problem in which the bladder wall can become inflamed and irritated, leading to frequent, painful urination
Bladder cancer - the sixth most common cancer in the United States

Doctors diagnose bladder diseases using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays and examination of the bladder wall with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment varies depending on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

Your Urinary System and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yoururinary/

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Blood in Urine (Hematuria)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/blood-in-urine/DS01013/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
Cystoscopy - Men(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cystoscopymale/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cystoscopymalespanish/htm/index.htm
Cystoscopy - Women(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cystoscopyfemale/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cystoscopyfemalespanish/htm/index.htm
Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/cystoscopy/
Frequent Urination(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/urinary-frequency/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
Hematuria (Blood in the Urine)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/hematuria/
Imaging of the Urinary Tract(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/imagingut/
Intravenous Pyelogram(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/ivp/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/ivpspanish/htm/index.htm
Pain During Urination(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/pain-during-urination/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
Radiography-Intravenous Pyelogram(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=ivp
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=ivp
Radionuclide Cystogram(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=05&topic=281
Ultrasound - Pelvis(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=pelvus
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=pelvus
Urinalysis(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/urinalysis/test.html
Urination Problems(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/535.printerview.html
Urine Color Change(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/urine-color-change/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
Urodynamic Testing(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/urodynamic/index.htm
Uroflowmetry(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=05&topic=288
Voiding Cystourethrogram(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=05&topic=289

Treatment

Bladder Augmentation(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=170
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=170
Urinary Diversion(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=145
Urostomy and Continent Urinary Diversion(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/urostomy/

Disease Management

Managing Bladder Dysfunction with Products and Devices(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=390

Specific Conditions

Benign Urethral Lesions(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=01&topic=32
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=32
Bladder Diverticulum(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=45
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=45
Bladder Fistula(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=35
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=35
Bladder Stones(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bladder-stones/DS00904/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
Bladder Trauma(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=36
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=36
Extrinsic Obstruction of the Ureter(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=01&topic=93
Nerve Disease and Bladder Control(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/nervedisease/index.htm
Neurogenic Bladder(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=109
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=109
Ureteral Injuries(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec11/ch150/ch150d.html
Urethral Stricture Disease(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=01&topic=180
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=180
Urethral Trauma(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=10&topic=144

Related Issues

Paruresis(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=410
Urine Color(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/urine-color/DS01026/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print

Tutorials

Cystoscopy - Men(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cystoscopymale/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cystoscopymalespanish/htm/index.htm
Cystoscopy - Women(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cystoscopyfemale/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cystoscopyfemalespanish/htm/index.htm
Intravenous Pyelogram(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/ivp/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/ivpspanish/htm/index.htm

Anatomy/Physiology

Kidneys and Urinary Tract(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/kidneys_urinary.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/kidneys_urinary_esp.html

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinary Bladder Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Urinary+Bladder+Diseases%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Urinary+Bladder,+Neurogenic%22

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Efficacy and safety of extended-release oxybutynin in combination with tamsulosin... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18775200&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Overactive bladder. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18700063&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Early treatment of acute pyelonephritis in children fails to reduce... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18762516&tool=MedlinePlus
Bladder Diseases -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=urinary+bladder+diseases[majr]+NOT+(urinary+bladder+neoplasms[mh]+OR+cystitis+interstitial[mh])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Medical Encyclopedia

self-catheterization - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=self%2Dcatheterization

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Glossary(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/glossary/index.cfm
Urologic Diseases Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/udictionary/

Directories

Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/resources/organizations.htm
Find a Urogynecologist(American Urogynecologic Society) - http://www.mypelvichealth.org/FindaProvider/tabid/75/Default.aspx
Find a Urologist(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/find_urologist/

Organizations

American Urogynecologic Society - http://www.augs.org/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/

Statistics

Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kustats/

Children

Benign Urethral Lesions in Children - Boys(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=01&topic=33
Benign Urethral Lesions in Children - Girls(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=01&topic=34
Bladder Exstrophy(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=310
Cloacal Exstrophy(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=311
Ectopic Ureter(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=01&topic=71
Genitourinary and Kidney Disorders(Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) - http://www.chop.edu/consumer/your_child/condition_section_index.jsp?id=-9162
Megaureter(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=01&topic=103
Urachal Anomalies(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=141
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=141
Ureterocele(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=01&topic=142&x=14&y=13
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=142
Urine Blockage in Newborns(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/newborns/
Urine Tests(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/labtest7.html
Vaginal Anomalies: Cloacal Anomalies(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=06&topic=148
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=148
Vaginal Anomalies: Urogenital Sinus(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=06&topic=152
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=152
Vesicoureteral Reflux(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/vesicoureteralreflux/

Teenagers

Kidneys and Urinary Tract(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/kidneys.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/kidneys_esp.html

Men

Bladder Outlet Obstruction: Causes in Men?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bladder-outlet-obstruction/HO00023/METHOD=print

Women

Cystocele(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cystocele/DS00665/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
Cystocele (Fallen Bladder)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/cystocele/
Urogynecology(American Urogynecologic Society) - http://www.mypelvichealth.org/CaregiverInformation/PFDFacts/Urogynecology/tabid/62/Default.aspx
Vaginal Pessary(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/reproductive/gynecologic/578.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/reproductive/gynecologic/578.printerview.html

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Bladder Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bladdercancer.html
Interstitial Cystitis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/interstitialcystitis.html
Pelvic Support Problems - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pelvicsupportproblems.html
Urinary Incontinence - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/urinaryincontinence.html
Urinary Tract Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/urinarytractinfections.html
Kidneys and Urinary System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneysandurinarysystem.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Bladder Diseases is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

Bladder Diseases - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/bladderdiseases.html