First described by Professor Clare J. Fowler in 1985, fowler’s syndrome is a rare, lifelong condition characterized by a failure in the sphincter muscles to relax, which results in urinary retention and a difficulty to pass urine (Bladder Health UK, n.d.). “Typically, a woman with Fowler’s Syndrome does not get a normal sensation to want to pass urine, they suffer with pain and discomfort associated with having a wee (F is for Fowler’s, 2019).” The cause is unknown, but it has been found to occur after a surgical procedure, childbirth, opiate use, or secondary to another medical condition (NORD, 2021). According to Bladder Health UK (n.d.), there is currently no cure for fowler’s syndrome; however treatments, such as intermittent self-catheterization, an in-dwelling catheter via the urethra, a supra-pubic catheter, or sacral nerve stimulation have all been found to alleviate symptoms.
Depending on the child’s stage of development, here are some key words you can use when explaining fowler’s syndrome to children:
• Bladder – the place inside your body that holds your pee
• Urethra – the small opening that your pee comes out of
• Catheter – a small plastic straw or tube that is placed into a part of your ____ (name body part)
• Electromyography (EMG) – a test to check how your nerves and muscles are working
• Urine – pee
• Nerves – part of your body that carries messages to and from the brain to the rest of your body
• Muscles – large group of cells that help your body to move
According to the Bladder and Bowel Community (2022), the common symptoms of fowler’s syndrome may include:
• Unable to pass urine (urinary retention)
• Back pain
• Suprapubic pain (pain over the bladder)
• Dysuria (discomfort / burning while passing urine)
• Stomach pain
Fowler’s Syndrome Facts
• Fowler’s syndrome typically affects women in their twenties and thirties who infrequently pass urine with an intermittent stream (Bladder Health UK, n.d.).
• Nearly half of the patients affected by fowler’s syndrome have polycystic ovaries (Bladder Health UK, n.d.).
• “Fowler’s syndrome is difficult to diagnose, but many women with Fowler’s syndrome have abnormal electrical activity on a specialized test called concentric needle electromyography (NORD, 2021).”
Resources
- Websites
• https://www.bladderandbowel.org/
• https://www.bisforbladder.com/
• https://bladderhealthuk.org/ - Applications
• Squeezy NHS Pelvic Floor App ($)
• Easy Kegel
• Elvie Trainer
• Perifit
Would you like more information added to this description? Contact us!
References
F is for Fowlers. B is for Bladder. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.bisforbladder.com/f-is-for
Fowler’s syndrome. Bladder & Bowel Community. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bladder/bladder-conditions-and-symptoms/fowlers-syndrome/#:~:text=What%20is%20Fowler’s%20Syndrome%3F,muscle%20that%20keeps%20you%20continent).
Fowler’s syndrome. (n.d.). Bladder Health UK. Retrieved from https://bladderhealthuk.org/page/index/295
Fowler’s syndrome. NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). (2021). Retrieved from https://rarediseases.org/gard-rare-disease/fowlers-syndrome/