Bowel and Bladder relationship

The Relationship between Bowel and Bladder Management

The bowel and bladder are 'neighbours' and they can influence each other. Below are some influences that can impact management.

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