Causes of Frequent Urination

Q:  Over the past year, I've experienced much more frequent urination - sometimes up to 15-20 times per day. I have also begun to have frequent pelvic pain. Visits to the doctor have resulted in a diagnosis of frequent urinary tract infections and antibiotics don't seem to do any good. What could be causing these symptoms?

A:  Besides the urinary frequency, this also means your entire day and activities require the immediate availability of a restroom. I can't imagine how frustrating this can be. Please make sure you have been checked for the presence of diabetes, the first sign of which can be frequent urination accompanied by excessive thirst.

Beyond this, my suspicion is that you have interstitial cystitis. This involves chronic inflammation of the bladder in addition to a decreased capacity that leads to urinary frequency and pelvic pain. This diagnosis requires the services of a urologist , who will need to visualize your bladder through a cytoscope.

Other possibilities include a cystocele (also called fallen bladder), a condition due to weakened vaginal walls as a result of childbirth. I am also assuming that your doctor has done a pelvic examination and utlrasound if there was a suspicion of any abnormalities.

Sometimes we physicians need to hear more directly whether the treatments we provide really work or not. I would suggest that the next time you see your doctor, let him or her know that the current approach is just not working.

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