Bladder & Bowel Archive

Weigh the small long-term cancer risk against the relief of common male urinary problems.

For men with bothersome urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate, treatment may involve the medications dutasteride (Avodart) or finasteride (Proscar). These drugs, called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, or 5-ARIs, help to shrink the gland and keep it from pressing on a man's plumbing. Both of these medications are available as generics.

Q. I recently took antibiotics to treat an oral infection and as a result developed a vaginal yeast infection. Can I treat it myself, and what are the most effective options?

A. If you've had yeast infections in the past and know for certain that your symptoms are the result of that problem, it's safe to diagnose yourself. But if you have symptoms you're not sure about, I recommend that you see your doctor or nurse practitioner to get a formal diagnosis. There is an important distinction to be made about whether you have an uncomplicated or complicated infection, based on your symptoms and the kind of yeast that is causing the symptoms. Your doctor may want to do a culture to determine the type of yeast. Candida albicans is the most common cause of vaginal yeast infections, but other species, like C. glabrata or C. tropicalis, may also be to blame and can require different treatment.

The constant urge to use the bathroom—along with embarrassing leakage—can have a huge impact on your life. Incontinence might even make you depressed, according to a study published in April 2014 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. The study, conducted by Dr. Kristin Hung and her colleagues at Harvard Medical School, included more than 4,500 women who were enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study. The women were interviewed every two years between 1996 and 2011.

The authors found that women with incontinence were more likely to have depression as well as work disability. Diagnosing and treating incontinence can have significant mental health benefits, the researchers wrote. Urinary incontinence is very treatable. If you're having trouble managing an overactive bladder or leakage, see your doctor. Therapies ranging from bladder training to Botox injections can effectively help reduce your urge to go.

Get to know your triggers and ways to prevent flare-ups.

Eating a fiber-rich diet helps to prevent constipation. There are a variety of laxatives for occasional irregularity.

Q. Now that I am postmenopausal, I have been getting bladder infections more frequently. Why is that, and is there anything I can do to prevent them?

A. You're said to have recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) if you get two or more infections in a six-month period. Postmenopausal women may be more susceptible to these infections for a few reasons. The cells in the urinary tract that help prevent infection depend on estrogen, so they don't work as effectively when less estrogen is being produced. Also, as you get older, the function of your urinary tract can change in ways that increase your risk for infection. For example, bladder contractions can be weaker, which means some urine tends to pool in the bladder. That leftover urine provides a good environment for bacteria to grow. Women with urinary incontinence, as well as those with bladder prolapse, are also at greater risk for infection.

Find out which of the latest therapies are worth trying.

Incontinence treatment has come a long way. Today, you have several choices for addressing the different types of incontinence.

Q. Every time I get a urinary tract infection, my doctor prescribes antibiotics. Is there any other way to treat my infections?

A. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common affliction in women, especially as we get older. Antibiotics—usually a three-day course—are the standard treatment for women younger than 65. Once you are older than 65, your doctor will likely treat you for seven to 10 days. Although there have been studies in which women's UTIs went away on their own without treatment, taking antibiotics prevents the infection from spreading to your kidneys, which can lead to complications such as permanent kidney damage.

Q. Sometimes I leak a small amount of feces without noticing it. It just appears in my pants. What can I do about this?

A. When feces leak accidentally from the rectum, it is called fecal incontinence. This embarrassing condition can range from mild spotting, as you have, to an inability to control solid bowel movements.

Get your life back if you're experiencing this easily treatable condition.

An overactive bladder (OAB, also known as urge incontinence) causes a sudden urge to urinate, even when your bladder isn't full. For some people it's simply a nuisance. For others, the urge can't be controlled, which leads not only to incontinence but also a severe impact on quality of life. "It's a major problem which limits people's social lives due to fear of embarrassing urine leakage. It is a significant contributory factor to depression. I have some patients who rarely venture outside of home because they are afraid they will wet themselves while in a public place," says Dr. George Flesh, director of urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery for Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates.