Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes damage to the nervous system, disrupting messages from the brain, and can therefore interfere with a wide range of bodily functions. Your bladder can be particularly susceptible to disruption.
Bladder issues are not uncommon when living with MS. In fact, 4 in 5 people living with MS are affected by continence challenges at some point in their life.1
More than half of people living with MS experience some form of overactivity or failure to store urine with their bladder. The bladder may contract even when it is not full. This leads to feelings of urgency, urge incontinence, and means that people need to visit a bathroom more frequently than normal.3
Sometimes, the smooth muscle of the bladder can be ‘underactive’. If this muscle does not work to push the urine out of the bladder, urine remains in the body even after going to the bathroom. This is known as “urinary retention”. You may feel the need to void yourself more frequently3 and experience a weak urine flow when going to the toilet.4 Underactivity is observed in 1 in 5 people living with MS.2
At times, the different functions of the bladder stop working together: bladder muscle contractions may not be coordinated with urinary sphincter muscles opening. Just like how a tap’s valve can prevent water from flowing even when there is pressure, a closed sphincter will prevent urination despite bladder contractions. In this case, your bladder may show signs of both overactivity and urinary retention. DSD can be seen in 1 in 4 people living with MS.2
It is not always easy to know if you are experiencing bladder issues. Sometimes for example, people normalise bladder overactivity or don’t notice how often they need to use a bathroom, instead finding coping strategies to deal their issues.
You can use our MS bladder check to reflect on any current bladder-related symptoms of your MS.5 You will be asked questions such as:
If you answer “yes” to any questions in the MS bladder check, you should consider discussing your bladder symptoms with your MS nurse or doctor to receive help in treating the symptoms.
You can also download our bladder diary to help you reflect on how your bladder is performing and open up a dialogue with your healthcare professional.
"Many catheter users are unaware of their bladder issues at first, a common symptom of MS related bladder symptoms is needing to go to the toilet more frequently than other people."
Michael | Living with MS
"Some people with MS may have trouble emptying the bladder completely, this may lead to bladder infections."
Elisa | Living with MS
If you are experiencing of bladder issues, it's always important that you consult a healthcare professional for medical advice and support.