What is Female Voiding Dysfunction?
Female Voiding Dysfunction is a broad term to explain. It is used to describe the condition where there is poor or faulty co-ordination between the urethra and bladder muscle. The lower urinary tract involves two things namely bladder and urethra which allows storage and timely expulsion of urine from the body. When both these organs (bladder and urethra) don’t coordinate with each other properly then the condition is known as Female Voiding Dysfunction or Female VD. If you’re facing this problem then it is preferred to visit the best gynaecologist and seek immediate medical attention.
According to the International Continence Society and International Urogynaecological Association, Female VD is defined as the abnormally slow or incomplete micturition based on their symptoms. This condition results in over-activity of the pelvic floor muscles and incomplete relaxation.
Despite the modern advancements in the technology of the lower urinary tract dysfunction, there still remains a lack of consensus regarding the definition and diagnosis of voiding abnormalities in women. Let’s get to know this serious problem in a bit detail.
Symptoms of Female Voiding Dysfunction
In order to diagnose this serious problem of Female Voiding Dysfunction, it is extremely important to know about the symptoms associated with the same. These symptoms mainly include:
- Urinary Hesitancy
- Slow or weak urine stream
- Urinary frequency
- Difficulty in emptying the bladder
- Urinary Urgency
- Dribbling Urine after the urination is complete
It is mandatory to know the fact that sometimes, symptoms of Female Voiding Dysfunction co-exist with other storage symptoms as well as with those related to urinary incompetence. If you find any of these symptoms then immediately contact Dr. Neeru Mehra and get rid of this problem easily.
Causes of Female Voiding Dysfunction
Going to the bathroom may seem easy but actually, there are a series of complicated signals which make sure that the bladder performs exactly how the brain tells it to. It is surprising to know that if any of these signals get out of the sync, one can face several difficult problems.
A number of causes are associated with the Female Voiding Dysfunction which includes:
- Nerve Dysfunction
- Non-Relaxing Pelvic Floor Muscles
- Under activity of the bladder (detrusor) or outflow (urethra)
How Female Voiding Dysfunction is diagnosed?
Diagnosing or evaluation of this problem may involve several tests such as
- Uroflowmetry
- Post-void residual and pressure flow studies.
Visit the best gynae doctor and get these tests done with much ease.
Treatment of Female Voiding Dysfunction
Treatment of Female Voiding Dysfunction is purely individualized and is based on the set of causes. The popular treatment for Female VD includes:
- Intermittent Self-Catheterization
It involves the regular insertion of a catheter into the urethra to empty the bladder completely.
- Pelvic Floor Therapy
In this technique, specialized physical therapists use the combination of several techniques in order to re-educate the muscles and nerves that control the urethra. It is advised to visit only the best gynaecologist near you with specialized training in pelvic floor disorders.
- Medications
Sometimes, medical relaxants can be used to treat severe urinary retention.
- Sacral Nerve Modulation
This technique is FDI-approved in which a small device is implanted under the skin of one of the buttocks. This works by stimulating sacral nerves which helps the bladder to function properly.
