Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

Bladder

5-minute read

Key facts

  • Your bladder is the organ in your pelvis that stores urine (wee).
  • Your bladder can hold about 500ml of urine, but most people feel the need to urinate (do a wee) when it's holding around 200-300ml.
  • Most people empty their bladder 4 to 6 times a day.

What is the bladder?

Your bladder is the organ in your pelvis that stores urine (wee). It is part of your urinary system.

Your bladder works with your kidneys to remove waste products from your blood. Your kidneys make urine, which is transported to your bladder along tubes called ureters.

Once the urine reaches your bladder, it stays there until you empty it. Urine (wee) leaves your body by passing through a narrow tube called the urethra.

Illustration of the anatomy of the urinary system.
Diagram of the urinary system.

What happens when you urinate?

To urinate (do a wee), your urethral sphincter (the muscle controlling the bladder outlet) and pelvic floor muscles relax. Your bladder then contracts (squeezes) so that it empties.

How much urine can your bladder hold?

Your bladder can hold about 500ml of urine. But you usually feel the need to go to the toilet when it's holding around 200-300ml.

Most people empty their bladder 4 to 6 times a day.

What are some conditions that can affect the bladder?

Bladder problems are fairly common.

Symptoms of bladder conditions can include:

  • Wetting yourself (even a little) when you cough, sneeze, laugh or when active.
  • Feeling an urgent need to urinate, or not getting to the toilet in time.
  • Passing small amounts of urine more than 8 times a day.
  • Unexpected changes in your bladder habits.
  • Blood in your urine.

Speak to your doctor if you're having problems with your bladder.

See your doctor straight away if you notice bright red blood in your urine or if your urine has turned pink, red or brown.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

Loss of bladder control — incontinence

If you can't always control your bladder, you may have urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is any involuntary (accidental) loss of urine from your bladder. It ranges from small 'leaks', to complete loss of control.

There are several different types of urinary incontinence, and treatment depends on the type and cause of incontinence. There are also some lifestyle suggestions that can help stop leaks.

Bladder infection

A bladder infection is also known as 'cystitis'.

Common symptoms include:

  • needing to urinate more often (and sometimes urgently)
  • pain or discomfort when urinating

See your doctor if you have symptoms of a bladder infection or urinary tract infection (UTI).

Overactive bladder

Overactive bladder is when your bladder muscles contract on their own. They may contract when your bladder is not full or when you are not ready to empty your bladder.

This can cause symptoms such as:

  • the need to wee urgently, sometimes causing loss of bladder control
  • weeing more often than usual
  • waking up more than once overnight to wee

Talk to your doctor if you have these symptoms as treatments are available.

Neurogenic bladder

'Neurogenic bladder dysfunction' is when there are problems with your bladder and how it empties caused by problems with your nerves. It can cause problems with your bladder control.

Neurogenic bladder can affect people with conditions such as:

Other bladder problems

Other problems that can affect your bladder include:

What tests are there for bladder problems?

There are several different tests that your doctor might recommend for different bladder problems. These can include:

  • urine tests
  • a bladder ultrasound scan
  • a cystoscopy — a procedure to look inside the bladder using an instrument called a cytoscope (a thin tube with a light and a small camera at the end)

Resources and support

Talk to your doctor about any bladder symptoms you are worried about.

If you think you have incontinence, contact your doctor or the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: May 2024


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Psychological Treatments for Bladder and Bowel Anxieties

Psychological Treatments for Bladder and Bowel Anxieties: A brief outline of psychological interventions that are used to treat bladder & bowel anxieties

Read more on Mindovergut.com website

What is incontinence anxiety? - Bladder and bowel anxieties

What is incontinence anxiety?: Bladder and bowel incontinence anxiety (also known as bladder and bowel obsession, and bladder/bowel control anxieties)

Read more on Mindovergut.com website

Advice for adults living with bladder and bowel anxieties

Advice for adults living with bladder anxieties: people with bladder & bowel anxietiesare often concerned about how their condition affects employment

Read more on Mindovergut.com website

Resilience programs - Bladder and bowel anxieties

The free psychologically focused 5-week resilience program for bladder and bowel anxieties. We hope to make the resilience programs available

Read more on Mindovergut.com website

What is bladder and bowel health? | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Good bladder and bowel health can help prevent problems in these important body systems. Find out how your bladder and bowel work and what the signs of a healthy bladder and bowel are.

Read more on Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website

Bladder and bowel throughout life | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Find out about bladder and bowel health for children, young people, pregnant women, older Australians or if you are caring for someone with a bladder or bowel control problem.

Read more on Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website

Bladder and bowel for older Australians | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Bladder and bowel problems can be very common in older people. Find out why this is and what you can do to manage a bladder or bowel problem

Read more on Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website

Bladder and bowel | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

A healthy bladder and bowel is important for your overall health. Common problems like incontinence can affect men and women of all ages. Find out about bladder and bowel health, what to do if you have a problem, and what we’re doing to help improve bladder and bowel health in Australia.

Read more on Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website

Bladder and bowel for adults | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Many adults in Australia have a bladder or bowel control problem. Find out what these are and how you can get help.

Read more on Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website

Do I have a bladder or bowel problem? | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Many people are affected by bladder and bowel problems. Find out if your bladder and bowel are healthy or if you need to get a check up.

Read more on Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Queensland Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.