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Urinary System
Learn about your urinary system health

Many people will have some kind of urinary problem or injury in their lifetime. Urinary problems can range from minor to serious. And sometimes these problems can start with the same symptoms. For example, pain during urination can be a symptom of both kidney stones and urinary tract infections. So it can be hard to tell which one is causing the problem.
But you can be prepared. Some common urinary problems may need only home treatment. But other more serious problems may need a doctor's care. Knowing the symptoms of urinary problems and your treatment options can help you take the best care of yourself. Our topics can help you learn more about your symptoms and care options.
Browse these topics to start learning more about your urinary system health:
- Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger
- Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older
- Absorbent Products for Urinary Incontinence
- Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Acute Kidney Injury Versus Chronic Kidney Disease
- Acute Prostatitis (NIH Category I)
- American Urological Association Symptom Index
- Anatomical Incontinence in Women
- Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease
- Artificial Sphincter for Urinary Incontinence in Men
- Basic Metabolic Panel
- Bed-Wetting
- Behavioral Methods for Urinary Incontinence
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Beta-Sitosterol Plant Extract
- Bladder Cancer
- Bladder Pain Syndrome (Interstitial Cystitis)
- Care for an Indwelling Urinary Catheter
- Caregiving: Adult Underwear for Incontinence
- Caregiving: Using a Bedpan or Urinal
- Caregiving: Using a Bedside Commode (Toilet)
- Catheters for Urinary Incontinence in Men
- Central Venous Catheter: Changing the Dressing
- Central Venous Catheter: Flushing
- Central Venous Catheters
- Chlamydia
- Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis (NIH Category II)
- Chronic Female Pelvic Pain
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Prostatitis/Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Inflammatory (NIH Category IIIA)
- Chronic Prostatitis/Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Noninflammatory (NIH Category IIIB)
- Circumcision
- Complicated Urinary Tract Infections
- Complications of Enlarged Prostate
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Cranberry Juice and Urinary Tract Infections
- Cryosurgery for Prostate Cancer
- Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer
- Daytime Accidental Wetting (Diurnal Enuresis)
- Dementia: Bladder and Bowel Problems
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy: Treatment for Urinary Problems
- Dialysis: Measuring How Well It Works
- Diuretics and Potassium Supplements
- Donating a Kidney
- Drinking Enough Water
- E. Coli Infection From Food or Water: Blood and Kidney Problems
- Electrical Stimulation for Urinary Incontinence
- Electrolyte Panel
- End-Stage Kidney Failure
- Enlarged Prostate: Bathroom Tips
- Enlarged Prostate: Herbal Therapy
- Enlarged Prostate: Laser Therapies
- Enlarged Prostate: Other Surgeries
- Enlarged Prostate: Transurethral Needle Ablation
- Enlarged Prostate: Uroflowmetry Test
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) for Kidney Stones
- Foods High in Oxalate
- Functional Incontinence
- Functional Incontinence: Timed Voiding and Prompted Voiding
- Genital Injuries: Urinary Problems
- Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
- Gonorrhea
- Hemodialysis
- Hemodialysis Compared to Peritoneal Dialysis
- Home Test for Protein in Urine
- Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer (Androgen Deprivation Therapy, or ADT)
- Hypospadias
- Infected Prostate Stones
- Interactive Tool: How Bad Are Your Urinary Symptoms From Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?
- Interactive Tools
- Intermittent Catheterization for Men
- Intermittent Catheterization for Women
- Intrinsic Acute Kidney Injury
- Kegel Exercises
- Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer
- Kidney Disease: Medicines to Avoid
- Kidney Stones
- Kidney Stones: Medicines That Increase Your Risk
- Kidney Transplant
- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Living With More Than One Health Problem
- Male Genital Problems and Injuries
- Medical Causes of Bed-Wetting
- Medicines That Can Cause Acute Kidney Injury
- Moisture Alarms for Bed-Wetting
- Motivational Therapy for Bed-Wetting
- Multiple Sclerosis: Bladder Problems
- Multiple Sclerosis: Urinary Tract Tests
- Nephrectomy
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Nephrotic Syndrome: Skin Care Tips
- Open Prostatectomy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Open Surgery for Kidney Stones
- Orchiectomy for Prostate Cancer
- Organ Transplant
- Overactive Bladder
- Overflow Incontinence
- Pain Management
- Parathyroid Gland and Kidney Stones
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy or Nephrolithotripsy for Kidney Stones
- Peritoneal Dialysis
- Postrenal Acute Kidney Injury
- Post-Void Residual Urine Test
- Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Cancer, Advanced or Metastatic
- Prostatitis
- Prostatitis: Pre- and Post-Massage Test
- Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Radical Prostatectomy
- Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP)
- Repair of Bladder Prolapse (Cystocele) or Urethra Prolapse (Urethrocele)
- Retropubic Suspension for Urinary Incontinence in Women
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Saw Palmetto
- Sexually Transmitted Infections: Genital Exam for Men
- Sexually Transmitted Infections: Symptoms in Women
- Sexually Transmitted Infections: Treatment
- Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease
- Stress Incontinence in Men
- Stroke: Bladder and Bowel Problems
- Suprapubic Catheter Care
- Surgery for Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Syphilis
- Tension-Free Vaginal Tape for Stress Incontinence in Women
- Total Incontinence
- Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP) for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Transurethral Microwave Therapy (TUMT) for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Transurethral Prostatectomy for Prostatitis
- Transurethral Resection (TUR) for Bladder Cancer
- Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Trichomoniasis
- Types of Kidney Stones
- Uremia
- Ureteroscopy
- Urethral Bulking for Urinary Incontinence
- Urethral Sling for Stress Incontinence in Women
- Urge Incontinence in Men
- Urinary Incontinence in Men
- Urinary Incontinence in Women
- Urinary Incontinence: Keeping a Daily Record
- Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
- Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older
- Urinary Problems and Prostate Cancer
- Urinary Problems During Pregnancy
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Older Adults
- Urinary Tract Infections in Children
- Urinary Tract Infections in Teens and Adults
- Urostomy Care
- Vascular Access Failure
- Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Abdominal X-Ray
- Albumin Urine Test
- Angiogram
- Blood Urea Nitrogen
- Calcium (Ca) in Urine
- Chlamydia Tests
- Chloride (Cl)
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body
- Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance
- Cystometry
- Cystoscopy
- Cystourethrogram
- Home Test for Urinary Tract Infections
- Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)
- Kidney Biopsy
- Kidney Scan
- Kidney Stone Analysis
- Laparoscopy
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Abdomen
- Pelvic Examination
- Pelvic Ultrasound
- Phosphate in Blood
- Phosphate in Urine
- Potassium (K) in Blood
- Potassium (K) in Urine
- Prostate Biopsy
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
- Sodium (Na) in Blood
- Sodium (Na) in Urine
- Syphilis Tests
- Total Serum Protein
- Uric Acid in Blood
- Uric Acid in Urine
- Urine Culture
- Urine Test
- Advance Care Planning: Should I Stop Kidney Dialysis?
- Bed-Wetting: Should I Do Something About My Child's Bed-Wetting?
- Bed-Wetting: Should My Child See a Doctor?
- Enlarged Prostate: Should I Have Surgery?
- Enlarged Prostate: Should I Take Medicine?
- Kidney Failure: Should I Start Dialysis?
- Kidney Failure: What Type of Dialysis Should I Have?
- Kidney Failure: When Should I Start Dialysis?
- Kidney Stones: Should I Have Lithotripsy to Break Up the Stone?
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Should I Have Surgery?
- Prostate Cancer Screening: Should I Have a PSA Test?
- Prostate Cancer: Should I Choose Active Surveillance?
- Prostate Cancer: Should I Have Radiation or Surgery for Localized Prostate Cancer?
- Stress Incontinence in Women: Should I Have Surgery?
Current as of: October 9, 2017
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine