What is Female Urology

What is Female Urology?
It is a sub-specialty of Urology that focuses on urinary and genital disorders in women.

 What are some of the common Female Urology problems?
1. Urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence (involuntary loss of urine), is NOT a normal part of ageing. Approximately 40% of women above 50 years old are affected and effective treatment is available. Therapies for incontinence include pelvic floor exercises, bladder drills, medication, endoscopic per-urethral injections and surgery. The common surgeries for incontinence performed by Urologists include tension free vaginal tape, AND trans-obturator tape.
2. Pelvic organ prolapse may present with urinary symptoms e.g. incontinence and voiding difficulties, or bowel symptoms e.g. constipation. They may complain of vaginal fullness or mass, or painful intercourse. Pelvic organ prolapse can coexist with stress urinary incontinence and surgery can correct both problems at the same sitting.
3. Overactive bladder is when the bladder is not as relaxed as it should be. Treatment may include: Medications, Bladder retraining, Sacral nerve stimulation 4. Voiding disorders
4. Urinary tract infections 20% of women (1 in 5) acquire a UTI at some point in her life. Of these, 20% will experience recurrent infections. Anatomical factors and physiological changes e.g. menopause predispose women to UTIs. Additional disorders within the urogenital tract e.g. urinary stones, pelvic organ prolapse and voiding dysfunction increase the risk.
5. Urological problems in pregnancy
6. Painful bladder syndromes (Internial cystitis)
7. Urinary fistulae (Vesicovaginal fistulae)
8. Sexual dysfunction

Any woman with complaints related to the urinary or genital tracts e.g. urinary frequency, urgency, incontinence, difficulty passing urine, dysuria, haematuria, vaginal mass and problems with sexual intercourse should seek medical help.