Why does bladder hurt when full

Talk to your doctor or nurse about different positions and lubricants you can get in the drugstore to relieve vaginal dryness during sex and ease pain. Researchers continue to search for new ways to treat bladder pain. Some current studies focus on:. To learn more about current bladder pain treatment studies, visit ClinicalTrials. For more information about bladder pain syndrome, call the OWH Helpline at or contact the following organizations:.

Department of Health and Human Services. ET closed on federal holidays. Breadcrumb Home A-Z health topics Bladder pain. Bladder pain. Bladder pain Bladder pain syndrome also called interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome is a chronic long-term pain condition that affects the bladder.

What is bladder pain syndrome? How is bladder pain syndrome different from a bladder infection urinary tract infection? Who gets bladder pain syndrome? What are the symptoms of bladder pain syndrome?

Symptoms of bladder pain syndrome can include: Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen. Pain may get worse as the bladder fills up.

Your pain may go away for a short time when you urinate and empty the bladder. Feeling like you need to urinate right away urgency , often frequency , or both. Most people urinate between four and seven times a day. People with severe bladder pain syndrome may urinate as often as 40 times a day, including during the night. Women with severe symptoms might get up throughout the night to urinate. Interrupted sleep can lead to extreme fatigue and sometimes depression.

Living with a chronic pain condition raises your risk of depression. Many women with bladder pain syndrome report pain during sex. Studies show that women with bladder pain syndrome may also have problems with becoming sexually aroused, vaginal dryness, and reaching orgasm. What causes bladder pain syndrome? Your risk for having bladder pain syndrome is higher if you: Had a bladder infection. Your bladder is lined with cells that protect your bladder from bacteria germs in urine. A bladder infection can damage this lining and cause irritation.

Have a family history of bladder pain syndrome. Your genes may play a role in whether you get bladder pain syndrome. How is bladder pain syndrome diagnosed? Some tests your doctor may do include: Urine test. Your doctor may test a clean sample of your urine. This means you will first wipe your genital area with a wipe to sterilize the area. Then you will collect your urine mid-stream in a cup. Your doctor will look at your urine under a microscope or send the urine sample to a lab.

Your doctor may use a cystoscope SISS-tuh-skohp , which is a thin tube with a tiny camera, to see inside your bladder. The cystoscope can help your doctor find problems such as cancer, kidney or bladder stones, bleeding, or ulcers. The cystoscope is put in the bladder through the urethra while you are sedated and not conscious.

Bladder distention. During a cystoscopy, your doctor may fill your bladder with liquid to slowly stretch and expand your bladder. This helps show how much urine your bladder can hold.

This procedure is also usually done while you are sedated and not conscious. The procedure may also relieve pain for some women. In a biopsy, your doctor removes a tissue sample and looks at it under a microscope. Samples of the bladder and urethra may be removed during cystoscopy. A biopsy helps your doctor figure out if bladder cancer could be causing your symptoms.

How is bladder pain syndrome treated? If your symptoms do not get better, other treatments your doctor may suggest include: 10 Physical therapy. Some or all of the pain that is diagnosed as bladder pain syndrome may be caused by spasm in the pelvic floor, lower abdomen, or back muscles. A physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor disorders can help treat the pain by teaching you strengthening and relaxation techniques.

Ask your doctor or nurse for a referral. Over-the-counter pain relievers. Medicine that you can buy without a prescription from the doctor, such as aspirin and ibuprofen eye-byoo-PROH-fuhn , may help with mild bladder pain. Prescription medicines. You may have to take this medicine for up to six months before your symptoms get better.

You should not take Elmiron if you are pregnant. Other medicines to help reduce pain include medicines used to treat allergies called antihistamines and medicines used to treat depression called antidepressants. Bladder instillation. During a bladder instillation, also called a bladder bath, your doctor uses a catheter to fill your bladder with a liquid or solution. The liquid washes the inside of your bladder for about 15 minutes before it is emptied.

The bladder bath may help prevent muscle spasms that cause bladder pain and the need to urinate. Most bladder pain is caused by UTIs, which can be treated with antibiotics. See your doctor right away to rule out other more serious causes of bladder pain. Crystallized minerals left in your bladder after urination can develop into bladder stones. Most typical in men, bladder stones can be a secondary….

Groin pain that occurs on the left side in women is often caused by things like injury, UTI, and kidney stones, but it could be due to another less…. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammation of the bladder that can cause pelvic pain, frequent urination, and incontinence. Pain can be mild or…. Prostate problems and an overactive bladder can cause men to have frequent and sudden urges to urinate.

Find out which exercises may help combat…. Kegel exercises can benefit both men and women. Here's a step-by-step guide to cleaning your vulva or penis after you pee and the benefits and risks involved in the process. If your doctor suspects complicated urinary tract infection UTI , there are several treatment options they may recommend. Learn what to expect if you…. Cystocele is a condition in which the bladder protrudes into the vagina. We explain the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and more.

A urine pH level test analyzes the acidity or alkalinity of a urine sample. Discover why it's important, what a normal urine pH level is, how to…. Foul-smelling urine is not a symptom or sign of cancer. It can, however, indicate other conditions, such as urinary tract infections or STIs.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Causes Pain in women and men Asymmetrical pain Seeking help Managing pain Takeaway Overview The bladder is a hollow, balloon-shaped muscle in the middle of your pelvis.

Bladder pain causes. Bladder pain in women and men. Bladder pain on right or left side. When to see a doctor? Other triggers include exercise, sexual activity, and sitting for too long. Many women find that symptoms fluctuate with their menstrual cycle. Some people with IC have fairly minor symptoms, but others experience drastic symptoms that directly impact quality of life.

Over time, the persistent urge to use the bathroom can cause some people to shy away from social activities, opting instead for the comfort of home. In the extreme, it can interfere with your ability to attend school or work. Sexual and emotional relationships may suffer. According to the U. Department of Health and Human Services, life with a chronic condition like IC may increase your likelihood of developing depression. Signs and symptoms of IC resemble those of several other conditions.

If you have ongoing urinary urgency or pelvic pain, make an appointment to see your doctor. There is no single test to diagnose IC. However, your doctor can rule out or treat urinary tract infection, vaginal infection, sexually transmitted diseases, bladder cancer, and chronic prostatitis. Medications and lifestyle changes can help to ease symptoms and make it easier to manage life with IC. Bladder pressure is often the result of interstitial cystitis IC.

IC is also known as bladder pain syndrome. Here's why it happens and how to find…. Pelvic floor physical therapy helps you to engage the pelvic floor muscles involved in the release of urine.

If you have overactive bladder, it may…. Bladder pain is usually caused by two conditions that are more common in women than men, and is usually not serious or life-threatening.

Men, however…. Many different medical conditions can cause swelling in your legs, which can create the urge to pee. Are any of them serious?