10 Urinary Bladder & UTI Facts

December 28, 2021

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common cause of sepsis, along with respiratory infections like pneumonia. We all know how important the urinary bladder is, but did you know these 10 facts about the bladder?

1.    The adult human urinary bladder can hold up to two cups of urine.

But it’s not a good idea to wait until your bladder is completely full before urinating. Holding or retaining urine regularly can lead to problems, such as weakened bladder muscles. This can cause urinary incontinence or difficulty urinating. Also, as urine stays in the bladder, it can result in a bladder or urinary tract infection (UTI). In rare cases, extreme urine retention can cause the bladder to rupture.

2.    People with shorter urethras get more UTIs.

The urethra empties urine from the bladder. Those with a shorter urethra, either because they were born with a vagina or had a vaginoplasty, tend to get more UTIs because the urethra is shorter and microbes (germs) do not have to travel as far from the genitals. To reduce the risk of a UTI, they should wash well after sexual intercourse and wipe from front to back after having a bowel movement. Other causes of UTIs include using a diaphragm for birth control, being pregnant, and being post-menopausal.

3.    People with longer urethras do get UTIs too.

Although not as common, people with longer urethras, either because they were born with a penis or had a phalloplasty, also can get a UTI. In older people, these infections are usually related to an enlarged prostate, inflammation of one or both testicles (orchitis), or having a urinary catheter, among other conditions. Children who are uncircumcised also may get more UTIs. Former President Bill Clinton was recently hospitalized for a UTI that progressed to sepsis.

4.    UTI symptoms are not always obvious.

The symptoms of a UTI are usually an intense urge to urinate frequently, burning on urination, and cloudy or bloody urine. But not everyone has or notices those symptoms, particularly the elderly. For them, the first sign may be confusion or disorientation – a possible sign of sepsis.

5.    The urinary bladder has nerves.

These nerves notify your brain when your bladder is getting full. It then signals when it’s time to go to the bathroom. The brain tells your bladder muscles to tighten when you are ready to urinate, so the urine squeezes out of the bladder. Once the urine flow is finished, the brain tells the bladder to relax.

6.    There is no set age for toilet training the urinary bladder.

The average age for successful toilet or potty training for urine is between 18 and 24 months, but some children are able to do it early, others not for another year. It all depends on their physical readiness. Night-time training can take longer, with some children continuing to wet the bed after they start school. If your child is toilet trained and starts having accidents, check with your doctor to ensure there is no infection.

7.    Overactive bladder (OAB) affects about 33 million people in the United States.

Overactive bladder causes a frequent and sudden need to urinate, even if you have just emptied your bladder. If you don’t get to a bathroom fast enough, it could cause urine leakage, or incontinence. OAB most frequently affects older adults but it is not a normal part of aging. If you are experiencing OAB, see your doctor to find out why. It could be treatable.

8.    Stress incontinence causes urine leakage.

Stress incontinence is a condition that causes you to leak urine when your body undergoes a stress like sneezing, coughing, or laughing. It affects up to 35% of adult women. The most common causes are aging, pregnancy and childbirth, obesity, and smoking. There are treatments available for many cases of stress incontinence. Don’t suffer in silence if you are experiencing this. Speak with your doctor.

9.    Bladder cancer is one of the more common cancers.

Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States. Symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in the urine, needing to urinate frequently, pain on urinating, and back pain. Ninety percent of bladder cancer cases are diagnosed in adults over the age of 55, with an average age of 73 years.

10. UTIs are one of the most common infections associated with sepsis.

Don’t trust home remedies, such as drinking cranberry juice, to cure a UTI. If you have any UTI symptoms, speak with your healthcare provider as soon as possible so you can get proper treatment. Learn more about sepsis and UTIs here.