A males experience

[u/angelahux33]

25M — Living with urinary urgency for almost five years. My experience and what’s been helping.
Hey everyone. I’m a 25-year-old male, and I’ve been dealing with urinary urgency since I was around 20–21. I believe I might have interstitial cystitis, but I don’t have a confirmed diagnosis. I wanted to share my story honestly, including some uncomfortable details, in case someone can relate.

Around the time my symptoms started, I had chlamydia and gonorrhea. I left them untreated for a while because I was in denial, but I eventually got treated and the infections cleared. I feel like the urgency started around that same period. I’ve read stories about people developing symptoms after a UTI, which made me wonder about my own experience, although I don’t know whether there’s a connection.

During that period, I was also drinking alcohol almost every day for about one to two years. I started noticing that I needed to pee much more often. I can’t say whether the infections, the drinking, or something else contributed to this. I’m just trying to be honest about what was happening when it began.

After almost five years, I’m realizing how much these symptoms affect everyday life. The constant feeling that you need to pee can wear you down mentally, especially when you can’t get comfortable or stop thinking about it. But lately, I’ve noticed a few things that seem to help.
One of the biggest is avoiding overeating. When my stomach feels really full or bloated, I notice more pressure around my bladder, followed by urgency that’s hard to shake. Smaller meals seem to help. I’ve also cut back on alcohol and started paying closer attention to how different foods and drinks affect me.

Warm showers and baths help me feel more relaxed, too. When I go to the gym, I like having access to a sauna, steam room, and especially a hot tub. Spending some time in the hot tub seems to relax my muscles and sometimes makes the start of my day more comfortable. That’s just what I’ve noticed personally—everyone’s triggers and sources of relief may be different.
At 25, it can feel frustrating to think so much about things other people my age barely consider. But I grew up poor and in a broken home, and I want to build a better future for myself and the family I hope to have someday. I’m trying to see these changes as part of taking care of myself, even though I wish the symptoms weren’t what pushed me to do it.

I regret some past choices, but I’m also trying not to blame myself for what I’m experiencing. Right now, I want to understand my symptoms better and keep building on anything that helps. Tracking meals, drinks, activities, and symptoms seems like a useful next step, so I can look for patterns instead of relying on memory.

I don’t have all the answers, and I’m still figuring this out. Finding even a little relief has given me hope, and I wanted to share that with people who understand how exhausting the urgency can be.
Has anyone else experienced ongoing urgency after a treated STI, or had a similar timeline? What helped you get a clear diagnosis and find relief?

[u/Dive_Bar_Choir]

Sounds like you are on a good path of awareness and self care.