What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Bladder Disease?

Bladder disease and complications come in many forms, all of which produce some level of physical discomfort. Because of the natural connection between your bladder and urination, a trip to the bathroom is the best time to monitor your physical behavior for signs of bladder problems. Recognizing the signs early enough can prevent further pain, discomfort and embarrassment.

Bloody Urine

• Blood content in your urine, or hematuria, can signal one of several different bladder problems, including a bladder infection. This happens when your bladder's inner lining becomes infected, often because of prostate infections, kidney complications or bacteria like E. coli. Bloody urine is also symptomatic of bladder cancer, in which case the urine may be rust-colored or deep red. Though bloody urine is often the first symptom of bladder cancer to present, it may not be detectable in your bathroom---microscopic hematuria is when the blood content of your urine is visible only through a physician's urine test.

Frequent Urination

• A marked increase in how frequently you urinate can also indicate a bladder infection. It can also be a symptom of bladder cancer, painful bladder syndrome and urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is the condition in which you have difficulty or an inability controlling your bladder---the different types of incontinence are generally caused by different complications elsewhere in your body.

Urge

• You should be wary of the frequent urge to urinate, as this can indicate bladder problems, as well. Unlike frequent urination, the frequent urge may or may not actually produce urine. For example, a symptom of bladder cancer is the urge to urinate without producing much or any urine. Painful bladder syndrome and bladder infections are also marked by frequent urge.

Pain

• Painful urination may be symptomatic of a bladder condition. For example, bladder infections are characterized by painful urination---when the bladder is infected, the urine has a high bacteria content. Painful bladder syndrome and bladder cancer may also be indicated by painful urination---PBS is also characterized by discomfort or pressure in the bladder area. In any case, be aware that painful urination---especially if unaccompanied by any other symptoms---may indicate a urinary tract infection, rather than a bladder condition.

Unique Symptoms

• While many symptoms of bladder disease are shared between various conditions, others are unique. A bladder infection may be characterized by fever, chills, nausea and lower back pain. Painful bladder syndrome may present stronger symptoms in women, particularly during menstruation and vaginal intercourse.