Sexual Health + Urology Flashcards
Define urge incontinence
aka overactive bladder - caused by overactivity of the detrusor muscle of the bladder.
Define stress incontinence
Weakness of the pelvic floor and sphincter muscles. This allows urine to leak at times of increased pressure on the bladder.
RF for urinary incontinence (4)
Increased age
Postmenopausal status
Increase BMI
Previous pregnancies and vaginal deliveries
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic floor surgery
Neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis
Cognitive impairment and dementia
What modifiable lifestyle factors that contribute to urinary incontinence/
Caffeine consumption
Alcohol consumption
Medications
Body mass index (BMI)
Ix for urinary incontinence
- Bladder diary - track fluid intake, urination episodes and incontinence over 3 days
- Urine dipstick
- Post-void residual bladder volume - bladder scan to assess for incomplete emptying
Stress incontinence management
Avoid caffeine, diuretics, excessive or restricted fluid intake
Supervised pelvic floor exercises
Surgery i.e. Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT)
Duloxetine is an SNRI antidepressant used second line where surgery is less preferred
Urge incontinence management
Bladder retraining (gradually increasing the time between voiding) for at least six weeks is first-line
Anticholinergic medication, for example, oxybutynin
Mirabegron - alternative anticholinergic medications
Invasive procedures - i.e. botox
Define retention
Inability to pass urine even when bladder is full usually caused by obstruction i.e. stones, BPH
What nerve is responsible for somatic control of micturition? and what part of the bladder does this nerve control?
Pudendal nerve (S2-S4)
Provides voluntary control over the external urethral sphincter - helps maintain continence during storage phase.
What nerve is responsible for autonomic control of micturition? and what part of the bladder does this nerve control?
Hypogastric nerve (T10 - L2)
Provides sympathetic innervation to the internal urethral sphincter and the detrusor muscle (bladder wall)
During storage phase:
1. Causes relaxation of detrusor muscle
2. Maintains tone of the internal urethral sphincter - to prevent unintentional leakage.
Describe micturition reflex during storage phase and voiding phase.
Storage phase:
1. sympathetic dominance inhibits bladder contraction
2. maintains sphincter tone
3. allowing the bladder to fill
Voiding phase:
1. parasympathetic activation leads to detrusor contraction
2. inhibition of the sphincters
3. facilitating urine expulsion
LUTS - storage phase Sx
F - frequency
U - urgency
N - nocturia
I - incontinence
LUTS - voiding phase Sx
S - straining
H - hesitancy
I - intermittency
P - poor stream
D - dribbling
What is cystitis?
Inflammation of the bladder
Why is UTIs more common in women?
Urethra is much shorter, making it easy for bacteria to get into the bladder.
Sx of lower UTI
Dysuria (pain, stinging or burning when passing urine)
Suprapubic pain or discomfort
Frequency
Urgency
Incontinence
Haematuria
Cloudy or foul smelling urine
Confusion is commonly the only symptom in older and frail patients
What is pyelonephritis and how does it occur as a result of lower UTIs?
Inflammation of the kidney. Lower UTIs can spread up to the kidneys and cause pyelonephritis.
Difference in Sx from px with pyelonephritis compared to lower UTI?
Fever
Loin/back pain
Nausea/vomiting
Renal angle tenderness on examination
Ix for UTIs
- Urine dipstick:
Presence of nitrites or leukocytes + RBCs = px likely to have UTI.
- Nitrites – gram -ve bac break nitrates (normal urine waste) to nitrites
- Leukocyte esterase - WBCs
- RBCs - haematuria
- Midstream urine (MSU):
microscopy, culture and sensitivity testing will determine the infective organism
Cx of UTI
MC - Escherichia coli
Other -
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Enterococcus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
Candida albicans (fungal)
Tx of UTI (cystitis)
Trimethoprim (avoid in patients in 1st trimester)
Nitrofurantoin (avoid in patients in 3rd trimester)
Amoxicillin or cefalexin used instead
Why is nitrofurantoin avoided in third trimester?
Risk of neonatal haemolysis (destruction of the neonatal red blood cells).
Why is trimethoprim avoided in first trimester?
Folate antagonist → cause congenital malformations, particularly neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida).
What bacteria causes chlamydia? What kind of bacteria is it? Intra or extra cellular?
Chlamydia trachomatis = gram-negative bacteria.
Intracellular organism = enters + replicates within cells before rupturing the cell and spreading to others.