'Ghost UTI' explained as women complain of painful phantom bladder syndrome

If you've ever experienced a urinary tract infection - more commonly referred to as a UTI - then you'll know they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.

The infection - which is often made worse by holding your pee or drinking acidic drinks - often causes symptoms such as a burning sensation while urinating and needing to pee more often than usual.

If the infection doesn't clear up, it can be treated with antibiotics.

But what happens if the symptoms you're experiencing don't appear to be caused by a bacterial infection?

UTIs can be super uncomfortable (Getty Stock Photo)

While UTIs are the result of bacteria in the urinary tract, many people experience something called 'ghost UTI' - or 'phantom UTI' - which is where the patient has all the same symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but doesn't actually have one at all.

One person wrote on Reddit: "For about a week I’ve been having the ever-so slightest of UTI symptoms. Mild pressure when I urinate and the slight feeling that I haven’t emptied my bladder, but when I try to push more out, I get an uncomfortable pain.

"... I went to the doctor’s on Monday and had both a dip test and urine culture done where both came back negative."

And another added: "This past two weeks I’ve been frequently urinating with urgency and pressure and producing very little. Burning, cramping in pelvic area, back pain… Obviously a UTI right?"

After visiting the doctor, the Redditor explained that tests revealed she didn't actually have a UTI at all.

So what's going on? Well, it could be caused by something called a 'ghost UTI'.

What is a ghost UTI?

Although the symptoms can feel just like a UTI, they're actually caused by something else called pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD).

Healthline explains that pelvic floor dysfunction is the 'inability to control the muscles of your pelvic floor'.

"The pelvic floor acts like a sling to support the organs in your pelvis — including the bladder, rectum, and uterus or prostate," the site explains.

"Pelvic floor dysfunction forces you to contract your muscles rather than relax them."

The tightening of the muscles in this region can lead to symptoms that mirror that of a UTI.

What causes PFD?

Essentially, anything that weakens the pelvic floor muscles can lead to PFD.

These include childbirth, injury, surgery and nerve damage.

Symptoms of PFD can be similar to a UTI (Getty Stock Photo)

What are the symptoms of PFD?

Symptoms include:

• Needing to urinate more often
• Pain while urinating
• Constipation
• Lower back pain
• Pelvic pain
• Discomfort during sex
• Muscle spasms in the pelvis

There are a number of ways that PFD can be treated - including medication, exercises and in some cases, surgery.

If you're concerned that you may have a UTI - or PFD - it's important to seek medical advice.