Brief Answer:
Some questions:

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I have some questions for you so that I can respond with specific information:

When did your symptoms start?
Do you have urinary urgency to go and are you feeling the need to go more frequently?
Any discomfort in the flanks (back of waist - area of kidney)?
Any nausea or fevers/chills?
Where is the uncomfortable pressure when you stand?
Have you had a hysterectomy in the past?

Thank you ... information to follow.

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Brief Answer:
Possible uterine prolapse vs atrophic urethritis

Detailed Answer:
Hi - thanks for the follow up information.

When women feel a pressure on their bladders or in the vagina (if that is where you are feeling the pressure), it can be from a uterine prolapse. This is when the ligaments that suspend the uterus get week and the uterus slips down, and exerts pressure thru the vaginal wall and sometimes on the urethra or bladder. The bladder can do this to some extent too.

This problem can be diagnosed with a bimanual pelvic exam that the doctor can do in his/her office. Treatment depends on how advanced it is. For minor prolapse, kegel exercises can help. Or a pessary. For more advanced prolapse, surgery can repair it.

Another possibility is inflammation or irritation of the urethra. This can happen after menopause due to the decrease in estrogen not keeping the tissues as robust as they were previously.

This can be seen by looking at the vaginal tissues. If they are less robust looking (fewer folds, thinner) then the same thing may be happening with the urethra. Treatment is vaginal estrogen cream.

However, this problem doesn't give pressure feeling so much as pain and frequent UTIs.

If the area I am assuming you are feeling the pressure is not correct, and it is higher up in the pelvis or abdomen, then it may be gastrointestinally related.

So - I suggest at this point that you go in to your doctor or an urgent care clinic where they can examine you.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.

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Brief Answer:
Gynecologist.

Detailed Answer:
If you have a gynecologist, go to him or her. If you don't have a gynecologist, start with your primary care doctor who will be able to tell a lot with a pelvic exam.

One other thing I didn't mention - it could also be a cyst near the opening of the vagina. This could cause discomfort with urination but no so much in the way of pressure.

Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD

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