Bladder pain: kind of intimate
Bladder pain, also known as
urinary tract pain, is defined as pain during urination. It is more common among women than men because of their relatively shorter urethra, which means that bacteria do not have to travel as far to enter the bladder, as well as because of the relatively short distance between the opening of the urethra and the anus.
How does bladder pain develop?
Bladder pain is most commonly caused by a bacterial or viral infection, fungi or some types of parasites traveling into the bladder through the urethra.
Bladder infections often occur in young women who have just become sexually active and have frequent sexual intercourse. In addition, bladder infections can occur anytime the flow of urine is blocked, or when the bladder is not completely emptied due to an enlarged prostate in men or
pregnancy in women. Individuals with kidney stones, urinary tract abnormalities, a weakened immune system, spinal cord injuries and diabetes are more likely to get infections, as are patients who have been catheterized to drain urine directly from the bladder. Another common cause of bladder pain is a condition known as
interstitial cystitis, which is characterized by inflammation of the bladder. Allergies, specifically food allergies, are also linked to bladder pain.
What are the symptoms of bladder pain?
Symptoms of bladder pain in both men and women include painful urination, a sudden strong desire to urinate, an increase in the frequency of urination, cloudy urine with an unpleasant odor and blood in the urine. Large quantities of blood in the urine may be due to an acute
bladder infection. Many patients also experience fever, pain in the lower back, nausea and vomiting, and shaking chills. Men may feel discomfort or pain in the penis and scrotum accompanying bladder pain. Some patients experience bladder pain after intercourse.
