dear asking for a friend,
i am a guy and i need to pee a lot. i often find myself running to the washroom throughout the day and in the middle of the night. i am young and healthy — is my bladder acting up?
signed, leakage
dear leakage,
if you’re young and healthy, pelvic floor dysfunction, a urinary tract infection, and your lifestyle habits might be to blame.
first, let’s talk about pelvic floor dysfunction (pfd).
dr. dean elterman, urologic surgeon at
princess margaret cancer centre
and assistant professor in the department of surgery at the
university of toronto
suggests that physical activity can impact bladder function and cause urinary frequency in younger men.
pelvic floor muscles support your bladder, rectum and prostate, and if the muscles are too tight — which can happen as a result of exercise — it can contribute to urinary frequency and incontinence. elterman says that pfd may be treated with pelvic floor physical therapy, which can include stretching exercises to relax the tight muscles.
urinary tract infection
a urinary tract infection (uti) can also cause a frequent and sudden need to pee — it happens when bacteria builds up in your urinary tract. the bacteria can make its way from the bladder to the kidneys, causing a serious infection. treatment usually includes antibiotics, but you can prevent the recurrence of a bladder infection through simple lifestyle tweaks, such as drinking fluids throughout the day, emptying the bladder when you need to rather than holding it in, and by practicing safe sex.
2 minute read
