American Urologic Association Foundation
Digital Urology Journal
www.Kidney.niddk.nih.gov
www.NLM.NIH.GOV
www.MedlinePlus.Gov
Symptoms
The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The key elements in the system are the kidneys, a pair of fist-sized organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine. Kidneys keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and produce a hormone that helps to form red blood cells. Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a sack-like organ in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through a narrow canal called the urethra.
When parts of the urinary system are not functioning as they should, symptoms can vary dramatically. Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe; they can exist or be nonexistent. But keep in mind, if symptoms are present one day and gone the next, that does not necessarily mean the condition, disorder or disease is gone. Some of the typical signs and symptoms of urologic conditions such as bladder cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer or urinary obstruction may include:
- Blood in your urine or semen
- A lump in your abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Pain in your side or lower back
- Changes in urination (inability, frequency, pain, less output, incontinence)
- Feeling the need to urinate without results
- Sensation that the bladder is not completely empty after urinating
- Trouble starting or holding back urination
- A weak or interrupted flow
Conditions
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The key elements in the system are the kidneys, a pair of fist-sized organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine. They keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and produce a hormone that helps to form red blood cells. Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder - a sack-like organ in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and eventually emptied through a canal called the urethra.
When any part of the urinary system is not functioning as it should, it can be due to one of several conditions, such as:
- Bladder Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Treatment Options
When medication and other non-surgical treatments are either unavailable or cannot relieve symptoms, surgery is the accepted treatment for a broad range of conditions that affect the organs of the urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.
Depending on your condition and its stage, treatment options for urologic conditions may include:
- Open Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Radiation Therapy
- Cryosurgery
- Watchful Waiting
- Hormonal Therapy
Treatment Comparison
A wide variety of conditions may affect a person’s urologic system, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis). These conditions include, but are not limited to cancers like prostate, bladder and kidney cancer, and benign conditions like ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction and vesicoureteral reflux.
When medication and other non-surgical treatments are either unavailable or cannot relieve symptoms, surgery is the accepted treatment for a broad range of conditions that affect the organs of the urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.
Depending on your condition and its stage, treatment options for urologic conditions may include:
- Open Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Radiation Therapy
- Cryosurgery
- Watchful Waiting
- Hormonal Therapy
- Treatment Comparison