Bladder capacity varies by age, gender, and health. Incontinence can cause fluid leakage before the bladder is full. A urologist can evaluate and treat decreased bladder capacity. Children and older adults have lower capacity, while women have smaller bladders due to internal genitalia. Underlying diseases like interstitial cystitis can also reduce bladder elasticity. Tests can determine capacity and control, and treatment may expand capacity or require incontinence management.
Bladder capacity can be determined by age, gender, and general level of health. People who have incontinence may experience fluid leakage before the bladder fills completely due to poor sphincter control or other problems. If a patient develops decreased bladder capacity, a urologist can evaluate the patient to learn more about the situation and determine if treatment measures are available. Sometimes the reduction is permanent and cannot be undone. In other cases, treatment may allow the bladder to return to its normal capacity.
Very young children tend to have reduced bladder capacity because their bodies are still growing, and although the bladder can expand and contract as needed, a normal-sized adult bladder would not fit a child’s body. At the other end of the spectrum, older adults also tend to have a lower capacity because their bladders are less stretchy. Older men are also more likely to experience prostate enlargement, which can reduce the amount of space available for the bladder to expand.
Women tend to have smaller bladders than men because their pelvic regions are filled with internal genitalia, so there is less space. During pregnancy, the available space decreases even more as the developing fetus swells in the pelvis and pushes the bladder out of the way. Pregnant women experience a frequent urge to urinate because when the bladder reaches capacity, nerve signals alert the body to empty the bladder before the urinary sphincter gives way.
The underlying disease can also affect bladder capacity. Some conditions may reduce the elasticity of the bladder and make it more difficult for it to expand. Interstitial cystitis is a common culprit. This disease causes chronic inflammation of the bladder, which can lead to scarring and decreased capacity. Additionally, patients who have a condition called neurogenic bladder might experience decreased bladder capacity because pressure builds up too quickly in the bladder and forces the urinary sphincter open.
A urologist may order a series of tests on a patient’s urinary bladder if a problem is suspected. These may include a test to determine capacity and control, using contrast materials introduced into the bladder through a catheter. It may be possible to expand a patient’s bladder capacity with treatment. In other cases, the patient may need to be careful to prevent incontinence. This could include using a catheter to drain the bladder in extreme cases or when a patient cannot urinate independently.
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