Diagnostics for prostate cancer
With awareness of the symptoms and signs of prostate problems, men, their partners, family and loved ones can be proactive, and take the steps needed to get a simple examination and the necessary tests.
The Prostate Centre
Women's Urology
Care that puts you first
Patient-led care for women
At The Prostate Centre we’re here to help all patients, and our team includes consultants who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of urological and lower urinary tract conditions that often affect women.
These include, but are not limited to:
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Up to half of all women (and approximately one in eight men) will experience a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their life and will be familiar with the symptoms – a frequent and often urgent need to urinate, along with cloudy and sometimes blood-tinged urine.
UTIs are most common in women in their 20s and 30s, as well during and after the menopause. Approximately a quarter of women who experience a UTI will develop another UTI within six months. Recurrent UTIs can be incredibly debilitating, but at The Prostate Centre, we have the expertise to help.
The reasons for getting UTIs are different, depending on your circumstances. UTIs tend to occur in younger women as the urethra is relatively short and bacteria can easily enter the bladder. Then, after menopause, the perineum loses some of its natural immunity and the bladder becomes more susceptible to infection.
If you come and see us about a UTI, we’ll take a detailed history, carry out an examination and arrange further investigations to see if there are any underlying reasons as to why you’re developing these infections.
Where possible, we’ll arrange for any further tests to be carried out on the day of your appointment to save you time.
While the treatment of recurrent UTIs can be very challenging, there are many evidence-based treatments available. These include:
- Antibiotics
- Lifestyle changes (such as drinking more, changing clothing, taking showers instead of baths)
- Non-antibiotic medications (such as intravesical therapies and UTI vaccines)
Stress incontinence
Sometimes, when the bladder comes under pressure, for example when you laugh, cough or sneeze, you can pass a small amount of urine.
Many patients feel embarrassed when it comes to discussing their symptoms, and this can lead to a delay in seeking treatment. In fact, urinary incontinence is a much more common problem than those who suffer with it often realise.
In some cases, specialised physiotherapy or bladder training can help. In others, simple lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding caffeine and doing exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor can have a big impact.
If that doesn’t prove effective, medication or minimally invasive procedures may be necessary to alleviate your symptoms. These can include:
- Urethral bulking injections: A quick and minimally invasive treatment in which a biocompatible gel is injected into the urethral walls to help them close more effectively, reducing urine leakage.
- Colposuspension: A procedure that lifts and secures the bladder neck using sutures, helping to restore normal urinary control.
- Fascial slings: A treatment in which a strip of tissue (fascia) is used to provide support to the urethra and prevent leakage by improving urethral closure.
In all cases, the first step to effectively manage and treat the condition is talking to a specialist.
Overactive bladder syndrome
Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is characterised by the frequent, sudden and uncontrollable urge to urinate. It becomes more common with age but can commonly affect younger men and women. There are sometimes underlying causes such as infection, obstruction by the prostate in men, urethral strictures or prolapse in women. Treatment often starts with a thorough assessment and ruling out of any underlying causes.
Overactive bladder can often be treated effectively with lifestyle modifications and medications such as anticholinergics or beta 3 agonist medications. In more severe cases, patients may need to undergo minimally invasive procedures such as bladder botox, sacral neuromodulation or posterior tibial nerve stimulation.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for above, don’t worry. We can help with a wide range of conditions. Get in touch and talk to a member of our team to find out how we can help you.
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Get in touch
You can book a consultation, often in as little as 24 hours, via our online contact form, or, if you’d prefer to speak to someone, you can also book by phone.