Constipation and Bladder Urgency: Why Treating One May Help the Other

When you see someone about bladder urgency, the conversation often stays on your bladder. But the bowel sits right behind it, and both depend on the same pelvic floor muscles. Research suggests constipation and bladder urgency often travel together.

A 10-year study of middle-aged women

U.K. researchers followed about 3,700 women who had given birth and didn’t have bladder symptoms at the start.¹ Ten years later, 40% reported some urinary symptoms.¹

• Women who had taken medicine for constipation were more likely to develop urgency, the sudden strong need to go, and hesitancy, trouble getting started.¹
• Women who needed constipation medicine at both early check-ins had about twice the risk of urgency.¹
• Constipation wasn’t linked to stress leaks (from coughing or lifting), urge leaks or nighttime urination.¹

The authors noted that if the link proves to be cause and effect, treating constipation could lower the risk of these bladder symptoms.¹

A clinic study

In a study of 145 women who weren’t being treated for bladder or bowel problems, those with signs of constipation were much more likely to have moderate to severe overactive bladder symptoms (33% versus 11%) and overactive bladder with leaks (32% versus 7%).² That study captured one moment in time, so it can’t show which came first.²

Why they may be linked

A full rectum can press on the bladder, and straining can strain the pelvic floor. These are plausible explanations, but the studies above don’t prove them.

What to do

• Mention your bowels at your bladder visit, and your bladder at your bowel visit.
• Treat constipation with fiber, fluids and well-studied laxatives if needed. Our guides to the laxative aisle and kiwifruit, prunes and magnesium explain options.
• Don’t cut fluids to control urgency, since it can worsen constipation. Our article on fluid restriction covers why.
• Check your medicines. Some bladder pills cause constipation. Our guide to bladder pills and dementia risk covers that class.
• Consider pelvic floor therapy, which can help both. See pelvic floor therapy costs.

Try: “I have bladder urgency and I’m constipated most weeks. Could treating my constipation help my bladder?”

Laugh, Sneeze, Jump includes an appointment prep sheet. Use it to record bowel habits alongside bladder symptoms for a week before your visit.