Your body's so-called genitourinary system is actually a group of two organ systems: the reproductive organs and the urinary system. They are lumped into a common group name because the organs lie close to each other. Some of the organs also share functions. For example, the male urethra is the pathway for urine (a function of the urinary system) and semen (a function of the reproductive system).
It is not always easy to detect injuries in the genitourinary system. Such injuries can be caused by several reasons, the most common of which are accidents, blows that are injurious to the lower abdomen, and contact sports. Certain diseases and illnesses can also cause genitourinary injury.
There are several ways to identify injury to your bladder or other genitourinary organs. Here are some of them:
- Abdominal Pain. Pain is always a sign of something wrong. In this case, it is a sign of injury. Take note, however, that not all genitourinary problems are accompanied by pain. However, pain is usually present especially when your injury comes from a hard blow from accidents or contact sports.
- Shock. Especially if there is internal bleeding and/or extreme pain in the genitourinary or lower abdominal area, the injured person may undergo shock, usually accompanied by profuse sweating, increased heart rate, faint spells, and clammy and cold skin.
- Hematuria. Internal bleeding may cause blood to be passed on to the urine, thus giving the urine a reddish, sometimes darkish brown color.
- Dysuria. Also known as dysuria, painful urination may also be a sign of injury or illness in the genitourinary area. Although, dysuria is not an exclusive symptom to genitourinary injury, it is usually a sign. Some injured persons will find it difficult to start a urine stream at all, while others may experience a burning sensation when urinating.
- Abdominal tenderness. Another common indication of genitourinary injury, especially in the kidneys, is unusual pain or tenderness when pressure is applied to the area under the ribs. The kidneys are located in this area.
- Bruises. Especially if the injury is physical, some bruises may be apparent in the injured persons groin area, scrotal area, or side.
If you are suspecting that you incurred injuries to your genitourinary area, you may want to seek the help of a doctor. Any medical professional can competently detect and diagnose the injury, as well as assess the extent of the damage, if any. Some of the diagnostic medical procedures that may be used are the following:
- Catheters. Flexible rubber or plastic tubes will be inserted through the urethra into the bladder in order to allow the urine to drain out. Catheterization will only be used if the doctor is certain that the urethra itself is not bleeding.
- CT Scan. A computer tomography scan (CT scan) will take x-ray pictures of the genitourinary system. The resulting image will be useful to the doctor in diagnosing the injury.
- Retrograde Cystography. A dye is injected into your bladder. The dye will create a contrast when an x-ray image is taken of the bladder.
- Urethrography. This diagnostic test will help the doctor identify blockages, obstructions, and other anomalies in the urethra. X-rays are used to create an image of the urethra.
- Arteriography. Contrast dye is injected into the blood vessels (i.e., arteries) in the lower abdomen area. Then, an image of the blood vessels is created using x-rays. The contrast dye will make the blood vessels visible in the image, as well as any damage that the blood vessels have incurred.
- Intravenous Urography. This is another test that uses contrast dye and x-ray images. This procedure is used to diagnose problems in the kidneys or the urinary tract.
Bladder or genitourinary injuries must be detected as soon as possible because if they remain untreated for some time, the injuries can cause many further complications that may prove to be beyond medical intervention.
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