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Urology |
Urology is the medical speciality concerned with surgical conditions in the urinary tract and the male reproductive system.
The urinary tract comprises the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, the prostate (in men only) and the urethra.
Although men seek urologists more often than women (due to prostate or urethral problems), women with urological
problems are usually also treated by urologists.
The urinary tract comprises the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, the prostate (in men only) and the urethra.
The kidneys are a paired organ, situated in the flank, one on either side. The kidneys are bean-shaped
(although some beans are described as kidney shaped), and approximately 3x6x12 cm of size. The kidneys’ main
function is to filter waste products from the blood, and thus form urine. The urine is collected in the kidney
pelvis, which continues to form the ureters – two long and narrow tubes leading the urine from the kidneys into the bladder.
The bladder serves as a resevoir for the urine, and urine is held back until voiding is necessary and practical. Voiding is initiated
by the voiding reflex, which in turn is initiated by the filling of the bladder, usually when the bladder holds 500mL of urine.
The bladder is a muscular organ, shaped much like a ballon. During voiding, the passage upwards through the ureters is closed and
the passage outwards is opened. Then, the muscles of the bladder contract, and the urine is expelled.
If there is a bladder outlet obstruction, voluntary use of the abdominal muscles may be needed to empty the bladder.
Finally, the urine is lead out through the urethra. In men the urethra is much longer than in women.
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Problems Urinating |
If you have problems passing urine or in case you have one of the below metioned symptoms we advise you to contact you doctor:
- Frequent urination - especially at night
- Difficulties in initiating voiding
- Interrupted and / or weak steam
- Inability to empty the bladder completely
- Blood in the urine
- Flank pain
In case you experience some of the above mentioned symptomps it might be due to different types of obstruction in the urinary tract system.
The urinary tract comprises the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, the prostate (in men only) and the urethra.
The prostate
The prostate is a wallnut sized gland in men, positioned just below the bladder, and around the urethra.
The prostate gland secretes fluid that is part of the seminal fluid. The prostate is prone to enlargement
with increasing age, and is thus one of the causes of bladder outlet obstruction.
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What is Gynaecology |
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Gynaecology is the medical speciality concerned with
medical and surgical conditions
of the female reproductive
system (except from those
related to pregnancy and
child-birth - that is
obstectrics). The female
reproductive system comprises
the ovaries, the fallopian
tubes, the uterus and the
vagina. Conditions of the female
urinary tract may be treated
by Pathological conditions in
the female reproductive system
can be structural (uterine
fibroids, cervix cancer etc.) or
functional – where abnormal
findings can not be identified.
This is exactly characterising
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
(DUB), a condition where no
cause can be identified but the
heavy periods impairs the
quality of life substantially. |
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Heavy menstrual
bleeding is group of conditions
characterised by heavy periods:
half of them have underlying
malformations such as fibroids,
polyps adenomyosis and other.
Another half is DUB –
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding.
In general, heavy menstrual
bleeding is not a rare disorder
and is involved in 25% in
gynaecological surgeries[1].
DUB is mostly caused by altered hormonal cycles: unbalanced fluctuation of hormonal levels results in overgrowth
of the uterine lining. This results in tendency to bleed profusely during the periods and leads to anaemia.
Less common cause of DUB is due to specific blood coagulation deficiencies such as Von Willebrand disease.
Physiology
The female reproductive organs are regulated by the female sexual hormones, substances-messengers managing the
development of the genitals in childhood and functioning of those in adult age.
In the fertile age the general levels of hormones remain high assuring the proper functioning of the reproductive system.
However, the levels do not remain steady but swing periodically causing menstrual cycle and female periods. The menstrual
cycle starts with menstruation were the uterine lining is shed – menstruation normally takes 3-5 days. Afterwards it takes
8 - 9 days (so-called follicular phase) until the new lining is restored in uterus and the egg is released from ovary – so-called
ovulation takes place. The uterine lining is then mature and ready for implantation of egg. If implantation does not occur during
the following 13-14 days (so-called luteal phase) the endometrium is shed thus starting the new cycle.
During pregnancy the hormonal levels are increasing dramatically losing cyclic fluctuation. The menstrual cycle
stops and the hormonal stimulation makes uterus grow together with the fetus. The cyclic physiology is restored after delivery.
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