Pain during urination as a symptom of endometriosis

How common is the symptom Pain during urination among people with endometriosis?

65,53% of people with endometriosis reported Pain during urination as a symptom of endometriosis in our survey.

How common is the symptom Pain during urination among people with endometriosis compared to the non-affected group?

7,81% of people with endometriosis suffer from the symptom Pain during urination very strong compared to a prevalence of 0,00% among non-affected individuals.
The following table shows the symptom Pain during urination in people with endometriosis compared to non-affected individuals. The scale ranges from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very strong).

Symptom Pain during urination in endometriosis - comparison with control group

Pain during urination in endometriosis
(n = 1729)
34,47%
20,07%
21,52%
16,14%
7,81%
Pain during urination in non-affected individuals
(n = 159)
89,94%
5,66%
4,40%
0,00%
0,00%

Tabular comparison of the prevalence of Pain during urination

Symptom severity Endometriosis Non-affected Comparison
not at all 34,47% 89,94% -55,47%
slightly 20,07% 5,66% 14,41%
moderate 21,52% 4,40% 17,11%
strong 16,14% 0,00% 16,14%
very strong 7,81% 0,00% 7,81%

Symptoms that could be related to Pain during urination

Based on the datasets, we calculated the Kendall correlation. The following symptoms could be related to Pain during urination.

Symptom name Correlation
Pain during bowel movements moderate correlation (34,00%)
Bladder infection moderate correlation (34,00%)
Urge to urinate without passing urine moderate correlation (33,00%)
Blood in urine weak correlation (28,00%)
Pain after intercourse weak correlation (27,00%)
Frequent urination weak correlation (27,00%)
Kidney pain weak correlation (27,00%)
Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen weak correlation (25,00%)
Nausea weak correlation (23,00%)
Limb pain weak correlation (23,00%)
Joint pain weak correlation (23,00%)
Back pain weak correlation (23,00%)
Bloated belly / Endo-Belly weak correlation (22,00%)
Dizziness weak correlation (22,00%)
Pain during intercourse weak correlation (22,00%)
Numbness in legs weak correlation (21,00%)
Exhaustion / Fatigue weak correlation (20,00%)
Leg pain weak correlation (20,00%)

Pain during urination in endometriosis

In endometriosis, endometrium-like cells grow in other parts of the body. In principle, these so-called endometriotic lesions can occur anywhere in the body. However, the pelvis is primarily affected. Endometriotic lesions are therefore also found on the urinary bladder, ureters, and urethra. This ectopic mucosa can accumulate both on the outside of the organs of the urinary tract and within them. Like the endometrium inside the uterus, endometriotic lesions are regulated by the female hormonal cycle. This means that over the course of the cycle the cell clusters first grow and then bleed. Mass effect, inflammation, and nerve irritation can lead to a wide range of symptoms in the urinary tract.

In addition to pain when urinating, you may experience generalized lower abdominal and back pain, increased urinary urgency, problems emptying the bladder, and blood in the urine. The symptoms caused by bladder endometriosis are similar to those of a urinary tract infection.

The diagnosis is made using ultrasound, which can detect larger endometriotic lesions. To visualize smaller lesions, an MRI is usually performed. In addition, laparoscopy can reveal growths on the outside of the bladder and ureters. Cystoscopy can be used to examine endometriotic lesions inside the organs. Cystoscopy is particularly useful for determining whether the ureteral orifices are narrowed by endometriotic lesions. In bladder endometriosis, treatment usually involves surgery to restore or preserve bladder function. In most cases, this procedure can be performed minimally invasively, that is, without leaving a large scar on the abdomen.  

Did you know that you can also have a big influence on endometriosis symptoms yourself? In the Endo App you learn self-management techniques for endometriosis and find many interactive exercises to relieve symptoms.