Can a tight pelvic floor cause persistent urinary urgency?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 29 years old and have a constant urge to urinate that is interfering with my daily life. I was told I have an overactive bladder, but the medications haven't helped much. I am under a lot of pressure and need to go to the toilet even shortly after having just gone which is exhausting.

I have symptoms that embarrass me at work and I won't go on long trips because of them. I have tried Oxybutynin, but it has helped very little. I am worried that this could be permanent. I am anxious all the time with these symptoms and people often don’t realise how disruptive these are to day to day life.

Can a tight pelvic floor make me feel like I have to pee all the time at my age?
Could it be a problem with the pelvic floor muscles rather than the bladder?
Would physiotherapy for the pelvic floor be helpful or could it make the symptoms worse?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern.

Yes, a tight or overactive pelvic floor can cause the following problems,Frequent peeing, a feeling of urgency. Pressure even after you pee. No dissatisfaction after peeing.

It can mimic or coexist with overactive bladder (OAB) in some individuals.

When the pelvic floor muscles are chronically tense, they can send constant signals of urgency to the brain and can make it harder for the bladder to feel empty. Because Oxybutynin has not done much to help you, it is reasonable to wonder if this is strictly a bladder problem or if pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is also contributing to your symptoms.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can be very useful in these cases, especially when the focus is on muscle relaxation, breathing techniques and reducing pelvic floor tension rather than strengthening exercises. It does not make symptoms worse in most cases when performed by a trained pelvic floor specialist and can significantly improve urinary urgency and frequency and pelvic discomfort.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.