The Bladder and Your Urinary System in Grand Rapids, MI

The bladder is a key part of your urinary system, which also includes the kidneys, ureters and urethra. In Grand Rapids, MI, bladder and urinary health are commonly evaluated and treated by urology specialists at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health.

Your kidneys continuously filter waste and excess fluid from your blood to make urine. Urine then travels down thin tubes called ureters into the bladder, where it is stored until you are ready to urinate.

What the Bladder Does

The main job of the bladder is to store and release urine.

  • Storage:
    The bladder wall is made of muscle that can relax and stretch to hold urine. At the same time, the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) tightens to keep urine from leaking out.

  • Emptying:
    When enough urine collects, nerves in the bladder send signals to your brain that you need to urinate. When you go to the bathroom, the bladder muscle contracts and the urethra relaxes, allowing urine to flow out.

Urine is mostly water, along with waste products the body needs to get rid of.

How Often Should You Urinate?

How much urine you produce depends mainly on how much you drink, as well as factors like:

  • Cold Grand Rapids winters (people may drink less water and more coffee or tea)
  • Hot, humid summer days along the Grand River (you may sweat more and urinate less)
  • Certain medications or health conditions (such as diabetes)

On average, most adults:

  • Urinate up to six times during the day
  • May get up once overnight

If you are going much more or much less often, or if urination is painful, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor in Grand Rapids.

Common Bladder Conditions in Grand Rapids

Bladder problems are common and treatable. Local urologists in Grand Rapids see many of the conditions below, and early care can prevent more serious issues.

Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis)

Bedwetting happens when a child (or sometimes an adult) passes urine during sleep without waking up.

  • Very common in younger children
  • About 1 in 5 preschoolers wet the bed
  • Around 1 in 20 children still wet the bed at age 10
  • About 1% of adults are affected

Cold Michigan winters, changes in sleep patterns, and stress (such as school transitions in Grand Rapids Public Schools) can sometimes make bedwetting worse.

The good news:
For many children and adults, bedwetting can be improved or fixed with simple treatments such as:

  • Bladder training
  • Bedwetting alarms
  • Managing evening fluid intake
  • Treating constipation or sleep problems

Don’t wait and hope to “grow out of it.”
If bedwetting is a concern:

  • Talk with your Grand Rapids pediatrician or family doctor
  • Ask for a referral to a urologist if needed

Urinary Incontinence (Unwanted Leakage of Urine)

Urinary incontinence is any accidental or unwanted leakage of urine. It is very common:

  • Affects about 1 in 4 women
  • Affects about 1 in 10 men

This is a frequent concern among older adults in West Michigan, but it is not a normal part of aging and is often treatable.

Main Causes of Incontinence

  • Overactive bladder:
    The bladder muscle contracts suddenly, pushing out urine before you can reach the toilet.

  • Bladder not emptying completely:
    In men, this is often due to an enlarged prostate, which squeezes the urethra and makes it hard for the bladder to fully empty. This can also occur in people with:

    • Diabetes
    • Nerve problems
    • Long-term urinary tract issues

Risk Factors for Incontinence

  • Weak pelvic floor muscles
  • Advancing age
  • Obesity (a concern in Michigan’s adult population)
  • Chronic coughing (for example, from smoking or asthma)
  • Straining with constipation (common when diets are low in fiber)
  • Some hormonal changes in women (pregnancy, childbirth, menopause)

Incontinence can often be prevented, treated, or even cured.
If you have bladder control problems, talk with:

  • Your Grand Rapids primary care provider
  • A urologist (for bladder and prostate issues)
  • A gynecologist (for women with pelvic floor or prolapse issues)

Cystitis (Bladder Infection / UTI)

Cystitis is a bladder infection, usually caused by bacteria that travel up the urethra and inflame the bladder lining.

  • Extremely common in women
  • Many women in Grand Rapids will have at least one UTI in their lifetime

Typical symptoms include:

  • Burning or pain when urinating
  • Needing to urinate more often
  • Feeling an urgent need to urinate, even when little comes out
  • Lower abdominal discomfort

Cystitis is:

  • Painful and annoying
  • Not contagious
  • Not passed during sex (though sexual activity can sometimes trigger infections)

Treatment for Cystitis

  • Antibiotics are usually prescribed by a doctor
  • Drinking plenty of water
  • Avoiding irritating drinks (caffeine, alcohol) while healing

If left untreated, cystitis can spread to the kidneys, which is more serious and may require hospital care at a Grand Rapids facility such as Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Bladder Stones

Bladder stones are small, hard deposits made from minerals and proteins that occur naturally in urine. They can:

  • Scratch the bladder lining
  • Cause pain, bleeding, and infection

Risk Factors for Bladder Stones

  • Underlying urinary tract problems, such as:
    • Enlarged prostate
    • Chronic bladder infections
    • Difficulty fully emptying the bladder
  • Chronic, mild dehydration
    (can occur in winter when people in Michigan drink less water, or in summer heat when working outdoors)
  • Advancing age

Treatment may include:

  • Increasing fluid intake
  • Breaking up the stones with special procedures
  • Surgical removal in some cases

Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder is a condition where the bladder muscle contracts suddenly and involuntarily.

This causes:

  • A sudden, strong, and often unstoppable need to urinate (urinary urgency)
  • Frequent urination
  • Possible leakage if you cannot reach the bathroom in time

The bladder may only contain a small amount of urine when this happens.

  • Can occur at any age
  • Especially common in older adults
  • Should never be considered a “normal” part of aging

Treatment for Overactive Bladder

First-line treatments often include:

  • Pelvic floor exercises (Kegels)
    Strengthen the muscles that support the bladder and urethra.
  • Bladder retraining
    Gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits to train the bladder to hold more urine.

Sometimes, medications are also prescribed by a Grand Rapids urologist or primary care provider to calm the bladder muscle.

Paruresis (Shy Bladder Syndrome)

Paruresis is difficulty or inability to urinate when other people are nearby, such as in public restrooms.

  • Considered a form of social phobia
  • Thought to be the second most common social fear after public speaking
  • Also called shy bladder syndrome

People with paruresis may:

  • Avoid using public restrooms (for example, at Van Andel Arena, schools, or workplaces in Grand Rapids)
  • Plan their day around bathroom access
  • Experience anxiety, embarrassment, and social withdrawal

Treatment may include:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with a mental health professional
  • Gradual exposure techniques
  • Support groups

Cystocele (Bladder Prolapse)

A cystocele occurs when the wall between a woman’s bladder and her vagina weakens, allowing the bladder to bulge into the vagina.

Other names:

  • Prolapse of the bladder
  • “Fallen” bladder
  • Anterior vaginal wall prolapse

Symptoms of Cystocele

  • Pelvic pressure or fullness
  • A bulge in the vagina
  • Trouble emptying the bladder
  • Frequent urinary tract infections
  • Leakage of urine with coughing, laughing, or exercising

Risk Factors for Cystocele

  • Childbirth (especially multiple vaginal births)
  • Chronic (ongoing) coughing
  • Straining on the toilet due to constipation
  • Obesity
  • Advancing age
  • Weak pelvic floor muscles

These factors weaken the pelvic floor so the bladder and urethra do not get enough support.

Treatment options in Grand Rapids can include:

  • Pelvic floor physical therapy
  • Vaginal pessary devices
  • Lifestyle changes (weight loss, managing constipation)
  • Surgery by a gynecologist or urogynecologist

Bladder Polyps

Bladder polyps are abnormal growths in the bladder lining. They may be:

  • Benign (non-cancerous)
  • Cancerous or pre-cancerous

Risk Factors for Bladder Polyps

  • Cigarette smoking (a significant issue in Michigan)
  • Male gender (men are more commonly affected)
  • Age (risk increases as people get older)
  • Chronic irritation or inflammation of the bladder

Symptoms of Bladder Polyps

Often, bladder polyps do not cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Urgency
  • Painful urination
  • Blood in the urine (may be visible or microscopic)

If you notice blood in your urine, contact a Grand Rapids healthcare provider promptly.

Bladder Cancer

Most bladder cancers start in the cells lining the inside of the bladder, called transitional cells. This is known as transitional cell bladder cancer.

There are two main types:

  1. Superficial (non–muscle-invasive) bladder cancer

    • Cancer is limited to the inner lining of the bladder.
    • Often treated with surgery through the urethra and sometimes medications placed directly into the bladder (immunotherapy or chemotherapy).

  2. Invasive (muscle-invasive) bladder cancer

    • Cancer has grown into the deeper muscle layers of the bladder.
    • May require more extensive surgery, systemic chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.

Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer

  • Cigarette smoking (major risk factor)
  • Advancing age
  • Male gender
  • Chronic bladder irritation or infections
  • Exposure to certain workplace chemicals

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

  • Blood in the urine (pink, red, or cola-colored)
  • Frequent urination
  • Painful urination
  • Urgency or difficulty urinating

Bladder cancer care in Grand Rapids is available through:

  • Urology and oncology teams at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health

Treatment options may include:

  • Surgery
  • Immunotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy

When to Seek Help for Bladder Problems in Grand Rapids

Contact a healthcare professional if you experience:

  • Painful urination
  • Blood in your urine
  • Frequent or urgent urination
  • Difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
  • Nighttime bedwetting beyond early childhood
  • Any new or worsening bladder symptoms

Local Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you have concerns about bladder health, you can contact:

  • Your GP / Primary Care Doctor
    First stop for evaluation and referrals.
  • Urologist
    For bladder, kidney, and prostate issues.
  • Gynecologist / Urogynecologist
    For women’s pelvic floor and prolapse issues.
  • Kent County Health Department
    For community health resources and education.
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs
    For local screenings, health education, and support.

Many clinics offer same-day or urgent appointments for urinary infections and severe symptoms.

Key Points About Bladder Health

  • Bedwetting is very common in younger children, and simple treatments often help.
  • Do not wait to see if bladder problems will “just go away.” Early treatment can prevent complications.
  • Urinary incontinence affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men and is often treatable.
  • An enlarged prostate is a common cause of bladder emptying problems in men.
  • Maintaining a healthy weight, staying hydrated (even in cold Michigan winters), not smoking, and doing pelvic floor exercises can all support better bladder health.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and are experiencing bladder issues, schedule an appointment with a local healthcare provider to discuss diagnosis and treatment options tailored to you.