Urinary urgency during pregnancy

Sudden urge to urinate (urgency) during pregnancy

Sudden, strong, and irresistible desire to get to the toilet immediately — this symptom is known as urinary urgency. It differs from ordinary frequent urination by its intensity and suddenness. This feeling can catch you off guard and make you drop everything in search of a bathroom. Like many other symptoms related to the urinary system, urgency is a common companion of pregnancy.

Why does such a strong urge arise?

The causes of this phenomenon lie in increased sensitivity and irritation of the bladder:

• Direct pressure from the uterus. Your bladder is a very sensitive organ. When the growing uterus presses on it, or when an active baby makes a sharp movement and "hits" it, receptors in the bladder walls send an emergency signal to the brain: "Urgent! We're full!", even if there is actually very little fluid in it.
• Hormonal influence. Pregnancy hormones can increase overall sensitivity of nerve endings, including those in the bladder.
• Increased blood flow. Increased blood flow to the pelvic organs can also contribute to heightened bladder activity.

This symptom most often bothers in the first and third trimesters. It is important to distinguish physiological urgency from symptoms of urinary tract infection, which adds pain or burning to the strong urges.