Why might my bladder hurt when I poop?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Bladder pain during bowel movements is often caused by shared nerve pathways between the colon and bladder, or by conditions that affect both organs at once. Because the pelvic nerves supplying these areas overlap, pressure or inflammation in the bowel can trigger pain signals in the bladder. Common causes include urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, pelvic floor dysfunction, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Since these conditions share overlapping symptoms but require very different treatments, identifying the underlying cause early is key to finding relief. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you clarify your symptoms, uncover possible causes, and guide your next steps—whether that's self-care or seeing a doctor. It takes only a few minutes and could save you weeks of uncertainty.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

When you feel bladder pain while pooping, it may be because the nerves that go to your bladder and colon can affect each other. This is called cross-organ sensitization, and it means that when your colon is active, it can make your bladder feel pain too.

Here are some possible reasons:

Cross-Organ Sensitization: The nerves of the bladder and colon can talk to each other. If one organ is irritated, it can cause pain in the other. This could happen if you have conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or interstitial cystitis.
Stool-Based Biomarkers: Some studies suggest that certain markers in your stool could be linked to bladder pain. This means that changes in your gut could be related to how your bladder feels.
Nerve Pain: Sometimes, nerve pain from your lower back can cause pain during both urination and bowel movements. This is because the same nerves are involved in both actions.

If you have ongoing pain, you can start by taking a free symptom checker test to better understand your symptoms, then talk to a healthcare provider to find out what is causing it and how you can feel better.

(References)

Grundy L, & Brierley SM. (2018). Cross-organ sensitization between the colon and bladder. American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology, 29146678.
Braundmeier-Fleming A, Russell NT, Yang W, Nas MY, Yaggie RE, Berry M, et al. (2016). Stool-based biomarkers of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain .... Scientific reports, 27188581.
Haddad R, Hentzen C, Le Breton F, Sheikh Ismael S, & Amarenco G. (2019). Lumbosacral radicular pain during micturition, defecation .... European journal of pain (London, England), 30697909.

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