Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Voiding Dysfunction
Voiding dysfunction describes a set of voiding complaints that occur when the coordination between the function of the bladder and the urethra becomes disjointed.
During normal urination, the urethra and the surrounding urinary sphincter relax while the detrusor muscle of the bladder contracts. When an individual suffers from voiding dysfunction, the urethra and sphincter fails to relax when the bladder contracts.
Causes of Voiding Dysfunction
Causes of such a condition include:
- Neurologic dysfunction
- Failure of the pelvic muscle to relax
- Or, a combination of both conditions mentioned above
Symptoms of Voiding Dysfunction
Common complaints include;
- Inability to initiate urine flow
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Weak urinary flow
- Urgency and/or frequency to urinate
- Post-void dribbling
Treatment of Voiding Dysfunction
Treatment of voiding dysfunction includes:
- Urethral dilation
- Pelvic floor relaxation training
- Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS)
- Medication such as muscle relaxant
- Neurotoxin therapy – (botulinum toxin – BOTOX™)
- Interstim™ therapy