Have You Ever Had Bladder Pain Or Frequent Urination?
What causes bladder pain?
Infection is not the only cause of a painful bladder. There are some common symptoms of the urinary system related to the bladder, especially in women, such as burning sensation, frequent and urgent urination, etc.
These symptoms can be caused by the following factors.
1. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Urinary tract infections are the most common cause of pain, urgency and frequency of urination when urinating. A urinary tract infection usually occurs in the urethra or bladder (lower urinary tract) or the kidneys (upper urinary tract). Other symptoms of a kidney infection can include back pain, fever, chills and nausea -- but not all people experience these symptoms.
"Surprisingly, although many older women have upper urinary tract infections, they don't have these symptoms," said Dr. Anthony, editor-in-chief of Harvard Health Letter.
2. Menopausal Genitourinary Syndrome (GSM)
GSM is caused by thinning and drying of bladder, urethra, and vaginal tissues caused by low levels of estrogen. "My estimate is that about 70 percent of postmenopausal women are affected by menopausal genitourinary syndrome," said Dr. Jeannine, a urologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
3. Vaginitis
Vaginal infections can cause itching, pain, discharge and smelly odor. As urine passes through the infected vaginal wall, the vaginitis can cause painful urination, but usually does not cause frequent and urgent urination.
4. Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
For example, chlamydia or gonorrhea can affect the urethra, uterus and ovaries. In addition to urinary tract symptoms, pelvic pain, fever, and increased vaginal discharge may occur at the same time.
5. Urethritis
It can occur in both men and women with bladder infections or sexually transmitted diseases.
6. Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome
It's a chronic condition that causes pain, urgent and frequent urination, but no bacterial infection. The most obvious symptom is pain when the bladder is full, which can be improved as the bladder is emptied.
"You may also have a feeling that you want to urinate multiple times per hour, or a sense that your bladder is constantly urinating," says Dr. Miranne. This is thought to be due to a problem with the protective lining that covers the bladder wall.
When you have bladder pain or burning, you need to go to the hospital. Your doctor may examine a urine sample and check for white blood cells (which indicate infection), red blood cells (which are infected in other situations) and bacteria. If this preliminary test shows any of these signs, urine culture can be used to determine if it is a bacterial infection, and which bacteria is causing it.
However, if there are symptoms but no infection, your doctor may consider other possible causes, such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. We may need to see another type of specialist, such as a urologist.
If only microscopic examination can see trace amounts of blood in the urine, we need to do a CT scan, ultrasound, or bladder examination to rule out cancer or kidney stones.
How do we treat an infection?
Treatment after infection usually involves a course of antibiotics. If you experience recurrent urethritis after menopause (more than two in six months), vaginal estrogen (cream, pill, or vaginal ring called estring) can be used to prevent infection.
But some doctors warn against repeatedly taking antibiotics, especially if the infection is not known, which can lead to antibiotic resistance. In the absence of inflammation, antibiotics have no effect. While it is more suggested that you can take the herbal medicine Fuyan Pill which is harmless with no side effects or drug resistance. You can also work with a physical therapist who trains your bladder, and you need to avoid stimulating foods such as coffee, tea, soda and sugar at the same time.
Dr. Miranne says: "I generally recommend that people who experience urinary urgency and frequency should not consume more than 1.9 L of fluid per day. This is enough fluid to flush the bladder and prevent infection without worsening the symptoms of urinary urgency and frequency."
Infection is not the only cause of a painful bladder. There are some common symptoms of the urinary system related to the bladder, especially in women, such as burning sensation, frequent and urgent urination, etc.
These symptoms can be caused by the following factors.
1. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Urinary tract infections are the most common cause of pain, urgency and frequency of urination when urinating. A urinary tract infection usually occurs in the urethra or bladder (lower urinary tract) or the kidneys (upper urinary tract). Other symptoms of a kidney infection can include back pain, fever, chills and nausea -- but not all people experience these symptoms.
"Surprisingly, although many older women have upper urinary tract infections, they don't have these symptoms," said Dr. Anthony, editor-in-chief of Harvard Health Letter.
2. Menopausal Genitourinary Syndrome (GSM)
GSM is caused by thinning and drying of bladder, urethra, and vaginal tissues caused by low levels of estrogen. "My estimate is that about 70 percent of postmenopausal women are affected by menopausal genitourinary syndrome," said Dr. Jeannine, a urologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
3. Vaginitis
Vaginal infections can cause itching, pain, discharge and smelly odor. As urine passes through the infected vaginal wall, the vaginitis can cause painful urination, but usually does not cause frequent and urgent urination.
4. Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
For example, chlamydia or gonorrhea can affect the urethra, uterus and ovaries. In addition to urinary tract symptoms, pelvic pain, fever, and increased vaginal discharge may occur at the same time.
5. Urethritis
It can occur in both men and women with bladder infections or sexually transmitted diseases.
6. Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome
It's a chronic condition that causes pain, urgent and frequent urination, but no bacterial infection. The most obvious symptom is pain when the bladder is full, which can be improved as the bladder is emptied.
"You may also have a feeling that you want to urinate multiple times per hour, or a sense that your bladder is constantly urinating," says Dr. Miranne. This is thought to be due to a problem with the protective lining that covers the bladder wall.
When you have bladder pain or burning, you need to go to the hospital. Your doctor may examine a urine sample and check for white blood cells (which indicate infection), red blood cells (which are infected in other situations) and bacteria. If this preliminary test shows any of these signs, urine culture can be used to determine if it is a bacterial infection, and which bacteria is causing it.
However, if there are symptoms but no infection, your doctor may consider other possible causes, such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. We may need to see another type of specialist, such as a urologist.
If only microscopic examination can see trace amounts of blood in the urine, we need to do a CT scan, ultrasound, or bladder examination to rule out cancer or kidney stones.
How do we treat an infection?
Treatment after infection usually involves a course of antibiotics. If you experience recurrent urethritis after menopause (more than two in six months), vaginal estrogen (cream, pill, or vaginal ring called estring) can be used to prevent infection.
But some doctors warn against repeatedly taking antibiotics, especially if the infection is not known, which can lead to antibiotic resistance. In the absence of inflammation, antibiotics have no effect. While it is more suggested that you can take the herbal medicine Fuyan Pill which is harmless with no side effects or drug resistance. You can also work with a physical therapist who trains your bladder, and you need to avoid stimulating foods such as coffee, tea, soda and sugar at the same time.
Dr. Miranne says: "I generally recommend that people who experience urinary urgency and frequency should not consume more than 1.9 L of fluid per day. This is enough fluid to flush the bladder and prevent infection without worsening the symptoms of urinary urgency and frequency."
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