General Urology | Springwood, Brisbane
Bladder & Urinary Health
Blood in your urine, frequent trips to the toilet, urinary leakage or difficulty emptying your bladder?
Southside Urology provides specialist assessment and treatment advice for bladder and urinary conditions affecting men and women.
Specialist urology consultations | Springwood, Brisbane Southside
Understanding Your Bladder
Your bladder stores urine before it passes through the urethra and out of the body.
Find Your Concern
What Urinary Symptoms Are You Experiencing?
Urinary problems are common, but they should not automatically be considered a normal part of ageing. Select a symptom to learn about possible causes.
Bladder Conditions
Common Bladder & Urinary Problems
Explore the conditions that may cause changes in urination, bladder discomfort or urinary leakage.
Blood in Urine
Visible or microscopic blood in the urine and when further investigation is needed.
Learn more → 02 / INFECTIONSRecurrent UTIs
Repeated urinary infections, possible causes and prevention strategies.
Learn more → 03 / URGENCYOveractive Bladder
Sudden urinary urgency, frequent urination and night-time bladder symptoms.
Learn more → 04 / BLADDER CONTROLUrinary Incontinence
Urinary leakage, loss of bladder control and treatment options.
Learn more → 05 / EMPTYINGBladder Emptying Problems
Weak urinary stream, incomplete emptying and urinary retention.
Learn more → 06 / PAINBladder Pain
Persistent bladder discomfort, painful urination and pelvic pain.
Learn more → 07 / STONESBladder Stones
Stones forming inside the bladder, symptoms and removal options.
Learn more → 08 / CANCERBladder Cancer
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment planning for bladder tumours.
Learn more →Understanding Your Symptoms
What Might Be Causing Your Bladder Problem?
Different bladder conditions can cause similar symptoms. A specialist assessment helps identify the cause and guide appropriate treatment.
Blood in the Urine (Haematuria)
Blood in the urine may be visible or detected only on a urine test. Causes include urinary infections, stones, prostate conditions and occasionally urinary tract cancer.
Even painless blood in the urine can be important and should be assessed promptly.
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Repeated UTIs can cause burning, urgency, increased frequency and lower abdominal pain. They may be associated with bladder emptying problems, stones or other risk factors.
Assessment may distinguish recurrent bacterial infections from other conditions causing similar symptoms.
Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder typically causes a sudden, difficult-to-delay urge to pass urine. It may also cause frequent urination, waking at night and leakage.
Symptoms can sometimes improve with bladder training, changes in bladder habits or medication.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary leakage may occur with coughing, lifting or exercise (stress incontinence), or with a sudden urge to urinate (urgency incontinence).
Treatment depends on the type of incontinence and may include pelvic floor therapy, bladder training, medication or selected procedures.
Difficulty Emptying the Bladder
Symptoms may include a weak stream, straining, incomplete emptying or the need to urinate again shortly after leaving the toilet.
Causes include urinary tract obstruction, reduced bladder muscle function and some neurological conditions.
Bladder Pain & Discomfort
Bladder or pelvic pain can occur with infections, stones, inflammation and bladder pain syndrome.
Persistent symptoms, especially when urine cultures are repeatedly negative, may require a broader assessment.
Bladder Stones
Bladder stones may cause painful urination, recurrent infections, interrupted urine flow or blood in the urine.
Treatment may involve endoscopic stone removal and addressing an underlying bladder emptying problem.
Bladder Cancer
Blood in the urine is a common presenting sign of bladder cancer. It may occur without pain or other urinary symptoms.
Bladder cancer assessment may include cystoscopy, imaging and biopsy. Treatment depends on the tumour type and stage.
Specialist Assessment
How Are Bladder Problems Investigated?
Not every patient needs every test. Your urologist will recommend investigations according to your symptoms, medical history and examination findings.
Urine Analysis & Culture
Urine testing can identify blood, signs of infection and other abnormalities requiring assessment.
Ultrasound or CT
Imaging may assess the bladder, kidneys, urinary tract stones, masses or incomplete emptying.
Uroflowmetry & Bladder Scan
These tests help assess urine flow and the amount of urine remaining after passing urine.
Flexible Cystoscopy
A small flexible camera is passed through the urethra to examine the bladder lining and urethra.
Urodynamic Studies
Selected patients may benefit from pressure and flow testing to better understand bladder storage and emptying.
Bladder Diary
Recording fluid intake, urine volumes, urgency and leakage can help identify patterns and guide treatment.
Treatment Options
How Are Bladder Conditions Treated?
Treatment depends on the cause of your symptoms, their severity and your preferences. Not everyone requires medication or surgery.
Finding the Right Treatment
Your urologist can discuss the benefits, limitations and risks of suitable options.
Lifestyle & Bladder Training
Fluid habit adjustments, management of constipation, pelvic floor physiotherapy and bladder training may improve some urinary symptoms.
Medication
Medication may help manage bladder urgency, overactive bladder or urinary infections. Choice depends on diagnosis, health and side effects.
Procedures & Surgery
Selected conditions may require cystoscopy, bladder Botox, stone removal, treatment of obstruction or surgery for bladder tumours.
Your Consultation
What Happens at Your First Bladder Assessment?
A consultation aims to identify the cause of your symptoms and develop an appropriate management plan.
Review Your Symptoms
We discuss the nature of your urinary symptoms, previous treatments, health and medications.
Review Previous Tests
Relevant urine results, imaging and previous urological investigations are reviewed.
Discuss Next Steps
Further investigations or treatment options are discussed according to your individual needs.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Attention
Seek urgent medical assessment if you suddenly cannot pass urine, develop fever or chills with urinary symptoms, have significant bleeding with clots, or feel seriously unwell. Visible blood in the urine should be assessed promptly even when painless. A routine appointment is not a substitute for emergency care. Call 000 for a life-threatening emergency.
Common Questions
Bladder & Urinary Health FAQs
Is frequent urination normal as I get older?
Urinary frequency may become more common with age, but persistent or troublesome symptoms should not automatically be considered normal. They can be caused by several treatable conditions.
Should blood in the urine always be investigated?
Blood in the urine should be assessed by a doctor, even when it occurs without pain. The investigations required depend on your symptoms and individual risk factors.
When are urinary infections considered recurrent?
Recurrent UTIs are commonly defined as two or more symptomatic infections within six months, or three or more within twelve months. Urine culture results can help confirm infections and guide treatment.
What is the difference between overactive bladder and urinary incontinence?
Overactive bladder causes a sudden urge to pass urine, often with frequency. It may or may not cause leakage. Urinary incontinence means involuntary urine leakage and has several possible causes.
Is cystoscopy painful?
Flexible cystoscopy is generally performed using local anaesthetic gel and may cause temporary discomfort. Your treating team will explain what to expect and discuss individual risks beforehand.
Can bladder symptoms be treated without surgery?
Yes. Many patients benefit from bladder training, lifestyle changes, pelvic floor physiotherapy or medication. Procedural treatment is considered when clinically appropriate.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Bring your GP referral, medication list, urine test results and any previous imaging or urological reports. A bladder diary may also be useful when available.
Southside Urology | Springwood
Need Advice About a Bladder or Urinary Problem?
Contact Southside Urology about specialist assessment for urinary symptoms, recurrent infections, haematuria and bladder conditions.
Suite 7/2 Murrajong Road, Springwood QLD 4127.