Did you know that your sexual life can suffer due to bladder issues? Bladder issues are more common than you think and also share a connection with sexual health. But the good news is most bladder issues are treatable. So, learn how bladder issues share a connection with sexual health and when you seek professional help to address them. You can contact us by visiting our clinic or visiting our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com.

The connection between bladder issues and sexual wellness

Many people don’t know but common bladder issues like Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), interstitial cystitis, BPS, incontinence, etc. are also closely linked with sexual wellness.

For instance, UTIs happen when bacteria enter the bladder through the urethra (a tube that flushes out urine from the bladder) and infect your urinary tract. This often causes symptoms like frequent and painful urination, difficulty urinating, and bladder discomfort.

This bacteria lives in the area around the anus which gets triggered while doing sex and causes pain to shift its position toward the front and from there, it may hop up the urethra into the bladder, where it multiplies and grows.

While you don’t get UTIs every time you have sex, however, if you’re getting UTIs often, then, maybe sex triggers your condition. According to the Urology Care Foundation, UTIs can occur due to frequent intercourse. Other reasons include having a new partner, a family history of UTIs, diabetes, pelvic organ prolapse, transitioning to menopause, etc.

However, the good news is it is easy to treat with antibiotics and natural remedies (such as increasing your fluid intake).

Similarly, some women experience chronic bladder symptoms such as painful and frequent urination and bladder pain even without any bacterial infection. This condition is known as interstitial cystitis (IC) also known as bladder pain syndrome (BPS).

It’s estimated that IC affects 450,000 Americans and a survey shows that at least 90% of patients reported that IC kept them from sharing intimacy with their partner. It mostly goes undiagnosed due to not finding its underlying cause which also makes it difficult to treat. Women are more prone to this condition than men and experience sensitivity and a painful bladder. This happens because the bladder gets displaced slightly during sexual intercourse, and having penetrative sex can be uncomfortable.

IC and associated conditions like pelvic pain and vulvodynia affect sex life, as it causes pain during intercourse or orgasm, which also prompts IC. This type of pain can decrease your desire, and create tension in the relationship, depression, avoidance, and guilt. IC/BPS causes major psychological impacts which need to be addressed. That’s why doctor treatment includes counseling, sex therapy, and good communication with your partner, to restore satisfying, and comfortable sexual intimacy in their life.

Besides these bladder issues, women also experience chronic painful conditions of the bladder including urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence. It is estimated that 1 out of 4 women suffer from incontinence at some point in their life. Leaking urine happens with activities like coughing, laughing, or sneezing then it’s known as stress incontinence. This occurs when the pressure on the bladder exceeds the pressure provided by the urethral sphincter, which manages the urethra during those activities. This urethra gets weakened during insufficient strength of the pelvic floor, pregnancies, births, and hormonal changes, particularly menopause.

Similarly, urge incontinence occurs when you develop a strong urge to urinate to the extent that urine is lost involuntarily before you make it to the toilet. This occurs due to unwanted contractions of the bladder. It gets triggered by drinking coffee, cold weather, running water, or upon arriving close to the bathroom destination.

People rarely share these distressing conditions with doctors which negatively affect their sexual lives. Women with incontinence are often afraid of leakage during sexual intercourse, and as a result, they avoid sexual situations. Women with stress incontinence are more likely to experience leakage with penetration due to the pressure on the bladder, similarly, women with urge incontinence may leak during orgasm, which may or may not happen during intercourse.

The good news is that both urge and stress incontinence are treatable. Several studies found that pelvic floor strengthening exercises successfully cure incontinence in participants in a controlled environment. Behavioral techniques such as bladder training, timed voiding, and dietary restrictions easily manage urge incontinence. In severe conditions, medications are prescribed to manage bladder contractions. In more severe cases, where pelvic floor rehabilitation is not effective, surgical repair is used to manage incontinence.

This means bladder issues severely affect sexual health, however, with proper treatment, those issues are manageable.

When to speak to your gynecologist?

If you experience urinary problems that affect your sexual and mental wellness and affect your relationship with your partner, you should speak with your gynecologist. Your gynecologist will perform some tests to rule out your issues and treat you accordingly.

Bladder issues and sexual health are closely connected as you may not think. Many women suffer from bladder issues that affect their sexual life. However, the good news is that most bladder issues are treatable and manageable with medications and lifestyle changes. So, you need to address them on time and visit a gynecologist or urologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

You don’t need to get embarrassed again with your urination problems, visit our urology clinic in Brooklyn to get a professional diagnosis and treatment. You can schedule an appointment with Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center’s best urologist in Brooklyn and inquire about your concerns. Our specialists will work with you in managing your condition. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com/.