What are the signs of bladder problems?

The bladder is a muscular organ located behind and slightly above your pubic bone that stores urine until it is ready to be expelled from your body. Bladder symptoms can be caused by conditions affecting nearby structures, infection, inflammation, injury, kidney or bladder stones, nervous system abnormalities, and tumors. Common bladder symptoms include bloody or pink-colored urine (hematuria), cloudy urine, difficulty urinating, foul-smelling urine, frequent urination, leaking of urine (incontinence), lower abdominal or pelvic discomfort, pain or burning with urination, and urgent need to urinate.

Bladder infection, inflammation, tumors and stones may be difficult to distinguish from each other based on symptoms alone; they can all cause urgency, frequency, lower abdominal or pelvic discomfort, pain or burning with urination, and blood in the urine. Cloudy or foul-smelling urine occurs more frequently with infection. Bladder infections may spread to the kidneys, causing back or abdominal pain, and can cause additional symptoms, such as fever. Cancers of the bladder that have locally advanced can also cause back or abdominal pain and fever; as the cancers progress, weight loss, anemia, and lower leg swelling can occur.

Tumors and stones in the bladder can act as plugs and can make it difficult to urinate. In men, the upper portion of the tube that drains the bladder (the urethra) is surrounded by the prostate, which can enlarge and interfere with urination. Infection and inflammation of the prostate can cause symptoms similar to those of a bladder infection.

Weakness of the pelvic muscles or of the muscles that surround the urethra can cause urine leakage. Incontinence can also occur as part of overactive bladder syndrome. Nervous system abnormalities, such as spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis (disease that affects the brain and spinal cord causing weakness, coordination, balance difficulties, and other problems), can cause urinary incontinence or difficulty initiating urination. Hormones associated with pregnancy and pressure on the bladder from the enlarging uterus can cause incontinence, as well as the need to urinate frequently.

Bladder infection, cancer and trauma can lead to life-threatening complications, including infections of the kidneys and bloodstream, cancer spread, and hemorrhage. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms, such as change in level of consciousness; change in mental status; high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit); not producing any urine; severe abdominal, pelvic or back pain; severe nausea and vomiting; or uncontrolled or heavy bleeding.

If your bladder symptoms are persistent or cause you concern, seek prompt medical care.

What other symptoms might occur with bladder symptoms?

Bladder symptoms may accompany other symptoms that vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the urinary tract may also involve other body systems.

Kidney and ureter symptoms that may occur along with bladder symptoms

Bladder symptoms may accompany other symptoms affecting the kidneys and ureters including:

Abdominal, pelvic, or lower back pain that can be severe
Blood urine (hematuria)
Decreasing urine output
Increasing, dull abdominal or pelvic pain

Other symptoms that may occur along with bladder symptoms

Bladder symptoms may accompany symptoms related to other body systems including:

Fatigue
Fever and chills
General ill feeling
Loss of sensation
Nausea with or without vomiting
Pain during sexual intercourse or ejaculation
Pain of the penis or testicles
Pins-and-needles (prickling) sensation
Swelling, especially of the lower legs
Unexplained weight loss

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, bladder symptoms may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

Bloody or pink-colored urine (hematuria)
Change in mental status or sudden behavior change, such as confusion, delirium, lethargy, hallucinations and delusions
High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
Not producing any urine, or an infant who does not produce the usual amount of wet diapers
Respiratory or breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, labored breathing
Severe abdominal, pelvic or back pain
Severe nausea and vomiting
Trauma to the urinary tract

What causes bladder symptoms?

Bladder symptoms can be caused by conditions affecting nearby structures, infection, inflammation, injury, nervous system abnormalities, pregnancy, stones, and tumors.

Infectious and inflammatory causes of bladder symptoms

Bladder symptoms may be caused by infections or inflammatory conditions including:

Bladder or other urinary tract infections
Interstitial cystitis
Prostatitis (infection or inflammation of the prostate)

Nervous system causes of bladder symptoms

Bladder symptoms can also be caused by nervous system abnormalities including:

Brain or spinal cord tumors
Multiple sclerosis (disease that affects the brain and spinal cord causing weakness, coordination, balance difficulties, and other problems)
Parkinson’s disease (brain disorder that impairs movement and coordination)
Spina bifida (incomplete closure of the spine during development)
Spinal cord injury
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury

Other causes of bladder symptoms

Bladder symptoms can also be caused by other diseases, disorders or conditions including:

Adverse effect of medications
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate that occurs with age)
Benign tumors of the bladder or nearby structures
Bladder or urethral diverticulae (outpouchings)
Cancer of the bladder or nearby structures
Cystocele (bulging of the bladder into the vagina)
Intrinsic urethral sphincter deficiency (weakness of the muscles around the urethra)
Kidney or bladder stones
Overactive bladder syndrome
Pelvic floor dysfunction (tightness of the muscles forming the pelvic floor)
Pregnancy
Urethral stricture in men (narrowing of the urethra)

Serious or life-threatening causes of bladder symptoms

In some cases, bladder symptoms may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. These include:

Pelvic trauma
Urosepsis (life-threatening bacterial infection of the blood complicating a urinary tract or prostate infection)

Questions for diagnosing the cause of bladder symptoms

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your bladder symptoms including:

What kinds of bladder symptoms are you having?
When did you first notice them?
Do you have any other symptoms?
Is there anything that makes your symptoms better or worse?
Do you have any other medical conditions?
What medications are you taking?

What are the potential complications of bladder symptoms?

Because bladder symptoms can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including: