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Causes of Urinary Symptoms

• Urinary Tract Infections(bladder or kidney) can be diagnosed by checking a urine sample. Symptoms are pain in the lower part of the abdomen, pain or burning feeling when you pass urine, needing to pass urine more often than usual, or a feeling you need to pass urine urgently. The urine can look cloudy or have blood in it. Some women get urinary infections more often after menopause.
• Overactive Bladder is when the muscles in the wall of the bladder suddenly squeeze the bladder and you have to pass urine right away. You may get this urge day or night and it can happen often. It can also cause painful urination. Your doctor can run tests to see if you have this.
• Genital Infections such as genital herpes cause blisters and sores on the genital area. These raw areas are painful; even more so when urine comes into contact with them.
• Vaginal Infections can be due to overgrowth of bacteria, yeast or other germs such as trichomonas (a parasite that is spread during sex). You may or may not have an abnormal vaginal discharge. You may have painful urination. Testing your urine and taking swabs from the vagina will tell the cause so that treatment can be given (see also STI care guide).
• Interstitial Cystitis / Painful Bladder Syndrome is a recurrent or constant pain in the bladder area which gets worse as the bladder fills. There is also frequency of passing urine and a need to get up to urinate during the night. The cause is unknown. Infections need to be ruled out first, before the diagnosis can be made.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections. See the STI Exposure care guide.
• Urethritis. The urethra is the tube which allows the urine in the bladder to be passed from the body. The tube can get inflamed or narrowed, causing pain when urine is passed.
• Bladder Outlet Obstruction Syndrome is when the exit route from the bladder is blocked and the bladder has to work hard to push the urine out. This can cause pain when trying to pass urine. Tests are needed to tell if this is the cause of your pain.
• Vaginal Atrophy. After menopause, estrogen levels fall. Estrogen helps keep the lining of the vagina and the skin in the genital area healthy. The tissues get thinner and more easily damaged. They are more at risk for infection. You may have vaginal dryness and pain when you have sex. Treatment with hormone creams or a lubricant gel may help.
• Diabetes. If diabetes is not well controlled, high sugar levels in the blood may make you pass urine more often. It is important to see your doctor to get your blood and urine tested. Urinary infection is also more common with diabetes.
• Bladder Stones or kidney stones can also cause blood in the urine and severe pain when passing urine. This may feel like passing gravel.
• Bladder Cancer. Symptoms include blood in the urine, but it is not usually painful to pass urine. In most cases, the cancer only affects the lining of the bladder and can be removed. If treated early, this may cure the cancer. Do not ignore bladder symptoms. Seek care from your doctor.
• Neurological Conditions are problems with the nerves that affect how the bladder works. Multiple sclerosis (MS), congenital spinal conditions or injury to the spine can damage the nerves to the bladder. They can make it hard to pass urine or cause incontinence.
• Medication. Some meds can cause urinary symptoms. Antidepressants (such as amitriptyline) can make it difficult to pass urine. Diuretics and lithium can make you pass urine more often or make you feel you need to.