How Does a Urologist Help with Your Parkinson’s?

Key Takeaways

Urinary issues like urgency, incontinence, and retention affect up to 80% of people with Parkinson’s as the disease progresses.
A urologist helps manage these symptoms through specialized testing, medications, behavioral therapy, and procedures like bladder Botox.
Urology care focuses not just on symptom relief, but also on protecting your dignity and helping with your sleep, emotional health, and independence.

When most people think of Parkinson’s disease (PD), they think of the motor symptoms like tremors, slowness, and stiffness. But as anyone living with PD can attest, the non-motor symptoms can have an even greater impact on quality of life.

Among these, urinary problems are some of the most common and disruptive. You might find yourself struggling with issues such as frequent trips to the bathroom, unexpected leakage, or trouble emptying your bladder.

It can feel frustrating and embarrassing when these problems occur, but take some solace in the fact that you’re not alone. Up to 70–80% of people with Parkinson’s experience some form of urinary dysfunction as the disease progresses. These issues often appear early, may worsen over time, and can interfere with sleep, travel, social interaction, and confidence.

Basically, they’ve awful and they suck.

That’s where a urologist comes in.

Below, we’re going to explain what exactly it is that your urologist does, why they are so important for people with PD, and what you can expect when you work with one.

What Exactly Is a Urologist?

Quite simply, a urologist is a doctor who specializes in the urinary system. This includes the bladder, kidneys, ureters, and urethra (and in men, the reproductive organs as well).

How does their work apply to Parkinson’s?

Urologists are key to managing a condition you’re about to become annoyingly familiar with called neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Essentially, it means that communication between the brain and bladder are disrupted, which leads to problems with storing or emptying urine.

Specifically, this kind of dysfunction can cause:

Urinary urgency – a sudden, intense need to urinate
Urinary frequency – needing to go more often than usual
Nocturia – waking up multiple times at night to urinate
Incontinence – leaking or loss of bladder control
Hesitancy – trouble starting urination
Weak stream or retention – feeling like you’re not fully emptying

These symptoms can deeply affect sleep, emotional well-being, and the ability to engage in normal daily life.

Your Urologist’s Roles and Responsibilities

So, how does your urologist help with these bladder-related challenges?

1. Bladder Function Evaluation

Your urologist may perform tests to evaluate how your bladder is functioning, like:

Bladder scans to see if urine is being retained after you go

Urodynamic studies to assess how well your bladder fills and empties

These tests help determine if any symptoms you’re suffering stem from overactivity, underactivity, or poor coordination – each of which requires different treatment.

2. Medication Management

Your urologist can prescribe medications to reduce bladder spasms and urgency. These may include:

Anticholinergics
Beta-3 agonists

Perhaps even more importantly, your urologist will coordinate with your neurologist to make sure these meds don’t interfere with your Parkinson’s treatments or worsen side effects like confusion or constipation.

3. Lifestyle and Behavioral Therapy

Sometimes, simple changes make a big difference. Your urologist may suggest:

Bladder training to space out trips to the bathroom

Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen control

Fluid management strategies to reduce nighttime trips

They may also refer you to a pelvic floor physical therapist for additional support.

4. Interventional Therapies

If your symptoms don’t improve with these treatments, your urologist may offer:

Bladder Botox injections to calm an overactive bladder

Catheterization guidance for people with retention or weak stream

Surgical options in more advanced or complex cases

All of these should be tailored to your individual condition, preferences, and comfort level. Speaking of which…

A Person- and Family-Centered Approach

Urology symptoms are intensely personal. They can be frustrating, embarrassing, and emotionally taxing. That’s why it’s critical to work with a urologist who practices Person- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC). This means they see and treat you as a whole person, not just a bladder.

Your urologist should take time to understand:

Your goals and priorities (e.g., reducing falls vs. reducing bathroom visits)
How much support you have at home
Your comfort with side effects or more invasive interventions

Through Shared Decision-Making (SDM), you and your urologist should develop a care plan that reflects your values, whether that means managing symptoms with the least medication possible, preserving your independence, or improving sleep quality.

When Should Someone with PD See a Urologist?

You don’t need to wait until things feel “bad” to benefit from urology care. Consider making an appointment if you experience:

Sudden or frequent urges to urinate
Leaking or accidents
Trouble starting urination or weak stream
Repeated nighttime trips to the bathroom
A feeling of incomplete emptying
Disrupted sleep, social outings, or daily activities due to bladder issues

The earlier you address these symptoms, the more options you’ll have, and the better your chances will be of avoiding long-term complications like UTIs or kidney strain.

What Should You Expect During a Typical Urology Visit?

A regular visit to your urologist may include:

A detailed discussion of your urinary symptoms
A physical exam
Simple tests like bladder scans or urine tests
A review of medications and possible interactions
Recommendations for behavioral changes, medications, or follow-up testing

Try to be open about how symptoms affect your life. This will help your provider recommend the most relevant and respectful solutions.

What Are Some Useful Questions to Ask Your Urologist?

There are a number of good things to ask depending on what you are experiencing. Below is just a sample of the types of questions urologists should be able to answer:

What’s causing my bladder symptoms and what are my options?
Could any of my Parkinson’s medications be making this worse?
Are there non-drug treatments I can try first?
What should I do if I wake up multiple times at night?
Would pelvic floor therapy help me?
When should we consider procedures like Botox or catheters?
How can we minimize side effects and preserve my independence?
How often should I follow up with you?

The Bottom Line

Even though urinary issues are among the most common symptoms people with PD experience, they are also one of the least talked-about parts of Parkinson’s. It makes sense. Who wants to have extensive conversations about the bathroom problems they’re struggling with?

But speaking up matters, because this isn’t something you just have to live with. A urologist brings the tools, experience, and compassion needed to help you manage these symptoms and preserve the comfort, dignity, and independence you deserve.

If you’re experiencing bladder changes or concerns, talk to your neurologist or care team about adding a urologist to your Circle of Care. With the right support and a plan tailored to your needs, you can take back control.

The information on this website is sourced from reputable references and real patient experiences. However, it is meant for educational purposes only. For medical decisions, please consult a healthcare professional.