Bladder Pain
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Burning sensation in the bladder
Itching in the bladder
Pain improves with urine
Discomfort in the bladder
The bladder hurts
Bladder spasm with pain
Bladder pain in the morning
Bladder pain with urinary urgency
About the Symptom
Bladder pain usually occurs when the bladder empties during urination as the muscles tighten to squeeze urine out. It my also present with lower abdominal pain, discomfort and burning. As the bladder fills up, the pain may become more severe. Emptying your bladder may temporarily relieve the pain.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Urinary frequency
- Abdominal pain
- Sensation of incomplete voiding
Possible Causes
Generally, Bladder pain can be related to:
- Pollakiuria
Pollakiuria is frequent daytime urination (up to 40 times a day) in children. It's most common in children 3 to 5 years old, but teenagers can develop it too. The exact cause is unknown but could be due to stress and other psychogenic triggers like moving, being bullied, or parents divorcing.
- Cystitis
A type of urinary tract infection that involves only bacterial infection of the bladder.
- Chronic Pyelonephritis
A type of urinary tract infection characterized by repeated bacterial infection of the kidneys.
- Bladder Cancer / Ureteric Cancer / Renal Pelvis Cancer
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Overactive Bladder
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Pregnancy
- Nephrolithiasis (Kidney Stones)
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Bladder pain may be related to these serious diseases:
- Acute Pyelonephritis
An infection of the kidney typically caused by bacteria.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are you experiencing bladder pain or discomfort?
- When did you first notice your bladder pain or discomfort?
- How often do you experience bladder pain or discomfort?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe was your bladder pain or discomfort at its worst?
- How is your bladder pain or discomfort now?
Reviewed By:
Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.
Nao Saito, MD (Urology)
After graduating from Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Dr. Saito worked at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Toda Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, and Ako Chuo Hospital before becoming Deputy Director (current position) at Takasaki Tower Clinic Department of Ophthalmology and Urology in April 2020.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
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- I have a strange feeling in my bladder
- Bladder pain improves with urination
- Pain in the bladder
- Discomfort in the bladder area
- Pain goes away after peeing
- Have bladder pain
- Weird feeling in the bladder
- Peeing relieves pain
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FAQs
Q.
UTI Symptoms in Women 30-45: Is It Serious? (Plus Next Steps)
A.
UTIs are very common in women 30 to 45 and are usually not dangerous if treated early, but they can become serious if ignored, especially with fever, back or side pain, vomiting, or rapidly worsening symptoms. There are several factors to consider, including when to contact a clinician within 24 to 48 hours, when to seek urgent care, and what else can mimic a UTI; see below for complete details that could change your next steps.
References:
* Hooton TM, Amory JK. Diagnosis and Management of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women. N Engl J Med. 2021 Sep 16;385(12):1110-1120. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp2105636. PMID: 34529363.
* Hooton TM. Acute Pyelonephritis in Women. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jun 4;382(23):2253-2254. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2006670. PMID: 32492290.
* Gupta K, Hooton TM, Naber KF, Wullt B, Colgan R, Miller LG, Moran GJ, Nicolle LE, Raz R, Scholes R, Takakusa Y, Infectious Diseases Society of America; European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. International Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis and Pyelonephritis in Women: A 2018 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Sep 1;67(5):e1-e23. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy103. Epub 2018 Jul 11. PMID: 29905263.
* Stamm WE. Differential diagnosis of suspected urinary tract infection. J Clin Microbiol. 2019 Jan;57(1):e01479-18. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01479-18. Epub 2018 Oct 31. PMID: 30381442.
* Qaseem A, Hickam DH, Etxeandia-Rivera I, Kansagara D, Markwardt S, Miller M, Quaife D, Amer S, Wilt TJ; Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Adult Women: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Dec 4;169(11):771-780. doi: 10.7326/M18-0756. Epub 2018 Nov 13. PMID: 30421712.
Q.
Why Is My Morning Pee Taking So Long? The Surprising Link Between Sleep and Bladder Flow
A.
Morning urination can take longer because sleep-related changes slow the start of flow, including overnight ADH effects, your nervous system still waking up, a very full bladder, and pelvic floor tension. If the stream improves later in the day, this is usually normal. There are several factors to consider, and red flags like persistent all-day weak flow, pain or burning, blood, fever, or inability to urinate mean you should seek care, with practical at-home tips and when to see a doctor outlined below.
References:
* Xu W, Wu W, Jiang Z, Zhang Y, He H, Li G, Hu J, Ma L, Luo Y. Impact of sleep disturbances on lower urinary tract symptoms: a systematic review. Int Urol Nephrol. 2021 Jul;53(7):1359-1368. doi: 10.1007/s11255-021-02796-0. Epub 2021 Feb 20. PMID: 33609062.
* van der Meulen E, van der Lely S, Visser E, Blok B. The circadian rhythm of urine production and bladder function. BJU Int. 2012 Dec;110(11 Pt B):E803-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11580.x. Epub 2012 Nov 21. PMID: 23167905.
* Huang Y, Lee YK, Chen HY, Chang Y, Chen SC, Cheng LC, Lin HH, Chuang YC. Circadian Rhythm of Bladder Function in Healthy Adults: Implications for Nocturia. Int Neurourol J. 2017 Mar;21(1):56-62. doi: 10.5213/inj.1732730.365. Epub 2017 Mar 31. PMID: 28372652; PMCID: PMC5385315.
* Xu X, Liu W, Li G, Yang F, Liu Y, Li G, Liu B. Association between sleep quality and lower urinary tract symptoms in older adults. J Int Med Res. 2019 Jun;47(6):2744-2751. doi: 10.1177/0300060519840332. Epub 2019 Apr 23. PMID: 31014167; PMCID: PMC6611385.
* Chen H, He B, Peng S, Yang Y, Han R, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Liu W, Gao C, Xu H, Hu J. Sleep deprivation affects detrusor contractility via RhoA/ROCK signaling in male rats. J Cell Physiol. 2020 Jan;235(1):795-802. doi: 10.1002/jcp.29029. Epub 2019 Jul 10. PMID: 31290074.
Q.
What does an injury in the hypochondriac region feel like?
A.
Pain just under the ribs can be sharp or stabbing, dull and bruised, or a deep gnawing ache, often worse with deep breaths, coughing, or twisting; the area may be tender with guarding, and pain can refer to the shoulder tip if the diaphragm is irritated. Seek urgent care for dizziness/fainting, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, vomiting or abdominal swelling, or severe/worsening pain, which can signal internal bleeding. There are several factors to consider—including how muscle/cartilage injuries differ from liver or spleen injury and how doctors confirm this with ultrasound/CT—see below for important details that can guide your next steps.
References:
Peitzman AB, Richardson JD, Feliciano DV, Schwab CW, Mattox KL, Reilly PM. (2000). Blunt hepatic injury: part I—pathophysiology, presentation, and diagnosis. J Trauma, 10930258.
Foucher J, Chanteloup E, Vergniol J, Castera L, Le Bail B, Couzigou P, de Ledinghen V. (2006). Diagnosis of cirrhosis by transient elastography: a prospective study. Gut, 16822860.
Ripoll C, Groszmann RJ, Garcia-Tsao G, Grace ND, Burroughs AK, Planas R, Escorsell A, Rodes J. (2007). Hepatic venous pressure gradient predicts clinical decompensation in compensated cirrhosis. Gastroenterology, 17106173.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Akiyama Y, Hanno P. Phenotyping of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Int J Urol. 2019 Jun;26 Suppl 1:17-19. doi: 10.1111/iju.13969. PMID: 31144756.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/iju.13969Homma Y. Interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome, hypersensitive bladder, and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome - clarification of definitions and relationships. Int J Urol. 2019 Jun;26 Suppl 1:20-24. doi: 10.1111/iju.13970. PMID: 31144731.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/iju.13970Bjorling DE. Measuring bladder pain. J Urol. 2008 Mar;179(3):815-6. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2007.12.004. Epub 2008 Jan 25. PMID: 18221966.
https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1016/j.juro.2007.12.004