Bowel and bladder relationship

The bowel and bladder are ‘neighbours’ and can influence each other. Examples of when this can occur include:

  • Reducing fluid intake to manage bladder volumes (for example: community access), can cause constipation.
  • Medications for bladder management such as anticholinergics can cause constipation.
  • Constipation can lead to increased bladder spasticity from pressure caused by a full bowel. This leads to leaking, outlet obstruction with voiding and may increase risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
  • Taking antibiotics for a UTI can cause constipation or diarrhoea.
  • If a person has a bladder augmentation, constipation may increase mucous production in the bladder as the intestinal tissue in the bladder still communicates with the bowel.
  • The presence of both a suprapubic catheter and a colostomy/ileostomy may increase the risk of UTIs due to potential contamination of faecal matter in close proximity to the urinary catheter.