Experiencing pain in any form in the pelvic area after urinating can be concerning. Even more frustrating than dealing with this pain for an extended time is the fact that there are many different conditions that could potentially be at the root of your pain after you urinate. So, might cause pelvic pain after peeing? What conditions should you be made aware of that could potentially lead to these issues?

If you’re experiencing pelvic pain after peeing, let’s examine the causes of pelvic pain stemming from urination, treatment options, and how you can better manage pelvic issues moving forward.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are a common cause of pelvic pain that is experienced during or after peeing. These infections occur when bacteria manages to make it into the urinary tract via the urethra. Once this bacteria is in, it can infect any area of the urinary system.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection include:

• A burning sensation or pain during and after urination
• Urine that has a foul smell or visible changes, like cloudiness or blood found in the urine.
• A low-grade fever
• An urgent feeling of needing to urinate or urinating more frequently than normal
• Experiencing pain or tenderness in the abdomen

Causes

Urinary tract infections are often caused by bacteria located in the gastrointestinal tract somehow finding its way into the urethra. However, they can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections reaching the urethra as well. Women are more prone to developing UTIs because of how close the urethra is to both the vagina and the anus.

Treatment

The good news is that, while UTIs are fairly common, they’re also much easier to treat. UTIs are often treated with a short course of antibiotic treatment. More severe cases of UTIs may require hospitalization to receive intravenous antibiotics as well as further treatment of the affected areas.

Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis, also known as bladder pain syndrome, painful bladder syndrome, and chronic pelvic pain, is a condition that’s characterized by the swelling of the muscle layers in the bladder. This causes a wide range of uncomfortable and painful symptoms, for which the severity will vary from person to person. Much like urinary tract infections, women are at higher risk of developing interstitial cystitis than men or children.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis include:

• An urgent need to urinate or more frequent urination throughout the day
• Experiencing pain during sexual intercourse
• Random pains in the pelvic area or chronic pain
• Discomfort or pressure in the pelvic area

Those who have interstitial cystitis and also develop other issues, such as a urinary tract infection, might feel even more pain or be further impacted by these co-occurring conditions.

Causes

It’s not entirely clear how this condition comes to be in some people, which means that it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly why someone might be dealing with interstitial cystitis. However, there are suggested causes as to how interstitial cystitis develops. These include:

• Trauma that takes place in the bladder lining (which may be attributed to surgery on the bladder or near the bladder)
• Inflammation of the nerves in the pelvis
• Holding in urine rather than going to the bathroom when the need strikes, which can stretch out and weaken the bladder
• Trauma to the spinal cord
• Chronic or repeated bacterial infections
• Autoimmune disorders (IBS and fibromyalgia have been found to be linked to those who are also experiencing interstitial cystitis)
• Pelvic floor weakness and dysfunction

Treatment

Much like the causes, there is no singular cure or treatment for interstitial cystitis. Rather, there’s a wide range of potential treatments that may alleviate the symptoms of IC for these individuals. Some of the treatments that are employed for IC include:

• Medications like antidepressants, anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, and pentosan polysulfate sodium
• Bladder instillation (filling the bladder to reduce inflammation)
• Bladder distention (stretching out the bladder to reduce the severity of IC symptoms)
• Electrical nerve stimulation
• Lifestyle changes (changes to diet, exercise, reducing stress, avoiding smoking)
• Surgery

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a form of cancer that often affects the lining of the bladder, sometimes spreading to the kidneys and ureters. This type of cancer is relatively common and is often caught before it becomes more severe and impactful. That being said, it can come back, so it’s important to regularly screen for it and ensure that you’re updating your doctor with any symptoms that could be troubling.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of bladder cancer include:

• Pain during urination
• More frequent urination
• Pain in the lower back
• Blood in the urine
• Difficulty urinating

Causes

Cancer is caused by abnormal changes in cell development. While there are several types of cancer cells that can be present in bladder cancer, the most common is urothelial carcinoma (urothelial cells are the cells responsible for helping your bladder expand when it’s full and contract when it’s empty).

Treatment

Surgery may be pursued in order to remove cancer cells. However, if you have high-risk bladder cancer or you aren’t able to receive surgery, you might receive treatments like bladder chemotherapy, whole-body chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapy. Your doctor might even recommend pursuing several types of treatment options in order to effectively rid you of your bladder cancer and give you the best chances of avoiding its development later on in life.

Start Your Journey Here With Lake City PT

While you will need medications or other treatments for specific symptoms of pelvic pain, other symptoms of causes of these conditions like pelvic floor weakness and dysfunction can be treated through certain types of physical therapy. Fortunately, if pelvic floor weakness and dysfunction are causing you pain and discomfort during sex or urination, there is help out there for you! Lake City PT is here to help you experience a better quality of life with our pelvic floor physical therapy that employs new technologies, provides you with holistic treatment, and gives you the education you need to be confident moving forward. Contact us by phone at (509) 891-2623 or via our online form to learn how we can support you!