The bladder is a hollow organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine. Many conditions can affect your bladder. Some common ones are

Cystitis – inflammation of the bladder, often from an infection
Urinary incontinence – loss of bladder control
Overactive bladder – a condition in which the bladder squeezes urine out at the wrong time
Interstitial cystitis – a chronic problem that causes bladder pain and frequent, urgent urination
Bladder cancer
Doctors diagnose bladder diseases using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays, and an examination of the bladder wall with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Start Here
Urinary Tract and How It Works   (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy   (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Imaging of the Urinary Tract   (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)Also in Spanish
Ultrasound — Pelvis   (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)Also in Spanish
Urinary Retention   (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Urination Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
Urinary Diversion   (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Related Issues
Urine Color (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish
Specifics
Bladder Control and Nerve Disease  (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Bladder Stones (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
Health Check Tools
Frequent Urination (DSHI Systems)
Pain During Urination (DSHI Systems)
Urine Color Change (DSHI Systems)
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinary Bladder Diseases   (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic   (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: Risk factors for bladder calculi in patients with benign prostatic…
Article: Mending Gaps in Knowledge: Collaborations in Neurogenic Bladder Research.
Article: Surgical Management of Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction.
Bladder Diseases — see more articles
Reference Desk
Kidneys and Urinary Tract (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
Find an Expert
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Children
Blood in the Urine (Hematuria) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
Patent urachus repair – slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Pediatric Voiding Cystourethrogram(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) – PDFAlso in Spanish
Ultrasound: Bladder (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
Ultrasound: Renal (Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
Urine Blockage in Newborns   (National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse)
Teenagers
Kidneys and Urinary Tract (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish
Men
Bladder Outlet Obstruction: Causes in Men? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Women
Cystocele (Prolapsed Bladder)   (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Vaginal Pessary (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
Bladder biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Bladder outlet obstruction (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Bladder stones (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Cystitis – noninfectious (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Indwelling catheter care (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Neurogenic bladder (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Self-catheterization – female (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Self-catheterization – male (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Urinary catheters (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish

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