Pain in the bladder usually indicates urinary tract infection, some irritation caused by cysts or stones but it can also be caused by some inflammation in the uterus or intestine. So to know what is causing this pain you should check if there are other symptoms such as blood in the urine, pain to urinate, fever or discharge in the vagina or penis, for example.
Treatment should always be indicated by the general practitioner but the gynecologist or urologist may also indicate the causes and the most appropriate treatment for the situation.
The main causes and treatments for bladder pain are:
1. Urinary tract infection
The urinary tract infection can affect the bladder, urethra or, more severely, the kidneys, being the most frequent cause of bladder pain. Usually, it is accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- Pain in the pelvis or bladder when urinating;
- Much urge to urinate, but leave little quantity;
- Too much urgency to urinate;
- Presence of blood in the urine;
- Pain in the urethra or bladder during intercourse;
- Low fever.
Although it is more common in women, it can also occur in men of all ages. In the presence of symptoms of urinary tract infection, a urologist or gynecologist should be sought, but if the appointment is delayed, it is necessary to go to the emergency room for an evaluation with observation of the inner region and examination of urine. Learn better how to identify the symptoms of urinary tract infection.
How to treat: If an infection is confirmed, your doctor may recommend antibiotics, such as Norfloxacin, Sulfa, or Phosfomycin, for example. Analgesic remedies, such as Paracetamol, or anti-inflammatories, such as Ibuprofen, can be used to relieve pain and discomfort. In addition, during recovery, it is important to drink about 2 liters of water per day and maintain good intimate hygiene. Cranberry tea is a great home remedy that can combat this infection naturally.
2. Painful bladder syndrome
Also known as interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome is an inflammation or irritation of the unrecognized bladder wall that can occur in both men and women. This syndrome can also cause signs and symptoms such as:
- Pain in the bladder;
- Burning or pain during urination;
- Difficulty urinating;
- Pain during intercourse;
- Willing to urinate several times a day and night.
These symptoms may have periods of improvement and worsening, and it is common for them to be confused with urinary tract infection, which causes the person to receive repeated antibiotic treatments unnecessarily, therefore, one should think of this disease whenever there are persistent symptoms and applicants.
In addition, in some people, these symptoms may appear or exacerbate with the consumption of substances like cigarette, coffee, alcohol, black tea, acidic foods or psychological causes.
How to treat : Analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to relieve symptoms, and it is important to treat the causes of stress and anxiety with psychotherapy or alternative therapies such as meditation and avoid the use of substances that trigger seizures. See more details on how to identify and treat interstitial cystitis.
3. Neurogenic bladder
The neurogenic bladder is a dysfunction in the ability to relax and contract the bladder and urinary tract, caused by neurological diseases, which causes urinary incontinence, a feeling of incomplete emptying in the urine and, in many cases, pain in the belly.
It can be of the hypoactive type, in which the bladder can not contract voluntarily, and accumulates urine, or hyperactive, in which the bladder contracts easily, causing urgency to urinate at inappropriate times, being more common in women.
How to treat : The neurogenic bladder is treated according to the cause and symptoms reported by each person, and may require physical therapy, use of medicines such as oxybutynin or tolterodine, bladder catheter passing or, in some cases, surgical procedure . Understand the causes better, such as identifying and treating overactive bladder.
4. Bladder inflammation
Bladder pain may be caused by some type of inflammation in this organ which may be being triggered by conditions such as:
- Bladder endometriosis, caused by implants of uterine tissue in the bladder, which causes chronic and intense pain, worsening in the premenstrual period;
- Use of medications, such as some chemotherapy drugs, which can cause irritation of the bladder tissue;
- Use of bladder catheter for a long time;
- Immune causes, in which there is a self-aggression of bladder cells;
- Cancer in the bladder, which causes lesions in the region.
In addition, changes in the prostate, in the case of men, can be a major cause of pain in this region due to inflammation, infection or tumor of this organ.
How to treat : Inflammation of the bladder should be treated according to its cause. The symptoms should be relieved with analgesics and anti-inflammatories, and then discuss with the doctor about the possibility of treatment, such as surgical procedure or remedies.
5. Kidney stone
The stone can settle in any region of the urinary tract, and can be at the level of the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. It can cause pain when it moves or impinges on a region of the urinary tract, which is usually very strong, and may be associated with bleeding in the urine and nausea.
How to treat : The urologist will indicate the appropriate treatment, according to the size and location of the stone, and may be with observation or surgery. It is important to hydrate by drinking about 2 liters of water per day to facilitate expulsion of the calculus and make it difficult to have complications in the kidneys. Here are some home remedies for kidney stone.
Can bladder pain be pregnancy?
Generally bladder pain does not indicate pregnancy, however, every pregnant woman has a greater tendency to develop urinary tract infection at this stage, so it is common to associate bladder pain with pregnancy. However, urinary infections in pregnancy do not usually occur before the woman discovers that she is pregnant and is a later change.
When the pregnant woman feels pain in the bladder this is a symptom that is mainly due to the corporal modifications that the woman suffers during this period, which is more common at the end of the gestation, mainly due to the pressure that the uterus increases does on the organs of the pelvis .
In addition, due to increased production of the hormone progesterone, the bladder becomes more relaxed and may contain more urine, which together with the weight of the uterus on the bladder can cause discomfort when urinating or bladder pain during the day. By having a more protein-rich urine the pregnant woman is also more willing to develop a urinary infection and thus feel pain in the bladder.
How to treat: To decrease or avoid bladder pain during pregnancy, pregnant women should drink plenty of water, wear comfortable clothing and cotton, maintain good hygiene of the intimate area and get enough rest during the day to avoid stress.
Other Causes of Bladder Pain
Inflammation of the organs of the region in the pelvis may cause abdominal pain and radiate to other sites and may give the sensation of bladder pain. Some of the main causes are:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, caused by infections in the vagina and uterus;
- Endometriosis of other organs of the pelvis, such as fallopian tubes, ovaries, intestine and peritoneum;
- Bowel diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome;
- Abdominal cramps, caused by menstruation or pregnancy;
- Inflammation of muscles or joints of the pelvis.
These causes will be investigated in case of bladder pain which has not been justified by other more probable causes such as bladder infection, calculus or inflammation, and the diagnosis can be made by the urologist or gynecologist.
