Burning during urination: causes and treatment

The presence of discomfort when emptying the bladder is a common symptom in men and women. This feeling manifests itself in completely different ways. In some cases, it occurs at the beginning or at the end, and in others after the completion of the urination process. All these signs may indicate serious problems associated with diseases of the urinary system.

Why do women experience urinary pain?

There are several causes of burning during urination in women. The most common:

• Hormonal changes. The appearance of pain and burning in the vagina during urination often occurs with menopause. A decrease in the production of female hormone leads to the drying of the vaginal mucosa and contributes to the appearance of scratches and small cracks. When urine is excreted, the damaged mucosa becomes irritated and pain appears.
• Cystitis. The first manifestations of the disease begin with painful sensations and frequent urination. In the chronic course of the pathology, periodic pain and a slight burning sensation occur. During an exacerbation, soreness is accompanied by rapid emptying of the bladder and discharge. Relapses can be replaced by remissions even without treatment.
• Urethritis. The urethra is inflamed due to ingress of the pathogen during domestic or sexual contact. Emptying is accompanied by pain and burning in the initial stage of the process, purulent discharge is possible.
• Infectious diseases of the vagina. Penetration of bacteria, fungi or viral infections into the urethra causes pain and burning sensation when urinating. In addition, discharge may appear that has an unpleasant odor.
• Pyelonephritis. Inflammatory kidney disease is accompanied by acute pain at the beginning of urination. This syndrome is characteristic in the evening. The disease is accompanied by aching pain in the lower back, a reduced volume of excreted fluid, increased body temperature. Perhaps the appearance of blood in urine, a color change to red, brown or brown.
• Urolithiasis disease. There is severe pain and burning after urination. The patient has frequent urges and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder. The main sign of urolithiasis is severe pain and the appearance of blood in urine. In addition, paroxysmal pains occur in the lower abdomen and lumbar region. When walking and physical activity, they intensify.
• Venereal diseases. They cause unpleasant sensations of burning and pain both at the beginning and at the end of urination.
• Thrush. A disease caused by a fungal infection is manifested by itching and burning when urinating in the genitals. Puffiness and copious cheesy discharge of white color are observed.
• Allergy. This is often facilitated by the use of certain hygiene products and even toilet paper. As a result of skin irritation, the vaginal microflora is disturbed, burning, itching and pain appear when the bladder is empty.

It is necessary to take into account that burning and pain during urination is a sign of a disease. To identify it and eliminate the cause, you should consult a doctor.

Causes of burning during urination in men

Some of the reasons for women and men coincide, but some of them are inherent only in the male half:

• Prostatitis. In the inflammatory process of the prostate, it is often exposed to the disease and the genitourinary tract as a result of painful sensations during urination. In addition, there is pain in the scrotum, lumbosacral spine and perineum.
• Prostate cancer The growth of the tumor causes frequent urination and burning, interruption and weak pressure of the stream, the desire to urinate again after a short period of time.
• BPH. In connection with the growth of benign neoplasms, the outflow of urine is difficult, pain appears.
• Atrophy of the prostate gland. This disease is associated with age-related changes in the body, congenital pathologies and other external and internal factors. Pathology is due to a decrease in the size and weight of the gland. As a result, there are problems with urination, pain and burning.
• Genital irritation due to condom use.

Men are less likely to suffer from inflammation of the urethra than women, due to the anatomical features of the structure of the organ. The urethra is of considerable length and the ducts of the prostate gland flow into it, the contents of which have an antiseptic property.

Diagnosis of diseases

If you feel discomfort, pain and burning sensation when urinating, you should contact a urologist who will conduct diagnostic measures to establish the true cause of the disease:

• a conversation with the patient, during which complaints will be heard;
• visual examination of the genitals;
• general analysis of urine and blood;
• urine biochemistry;
• smear on the microflora;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate gland in men;
• PCR analysis, one of the newest and most accurate ways to detect infectious diseases;
• allergen tests;
• cystoscopy - examination of the inner surface of the urethra and bladder using an endoscope;
• MRI of the lumbosacral region.

Based on the results, a diagnosis is made and an appropriate course of therapy is prescribed. There are many reasons for burning during urination, so self-diagnosis and treatment at home contributes to the transition of the disease into a chronic form and a serious threat to health.

When is it necessary to make an appointment with a doctor?

To carry out treatment and first aid measures, it is necessary to find out the cause of the burning sensation when the bladder is empty. With renal colic, emergency care is needed. To reduce pain in this disease, antispasmodics are used. In the absence of urine or its accumulation of not more than 50 ml per day, as well as the detection of a significant amount of blood in urine, urgent hospitalization of the patient is required to identify the causes of what is happening. Be sure to make an appointment with the doctor if unpleasant sensations persist during the day:

• soreness in the lower back;
• burning after emptying;
• feeling of chills and fever;
• headache;
• body aches;
• fever;
• persistent itching.

If there is a burning sensation and pain during urination, a doctor should be consulted for a diagnosis, and he will give a referral to a urologist or gynecologist.

Diseases causing burning during urination in women

Mostly, these symptoms occur in the following conditions:

• Cystitis is considered a female disease. This is explained by the anatomical feature of the structure of the urethra. Its length is much shorter than that of men, so microorganisms easily enter the bladder, causing inflammation. The pain is of a different nature: pulling, cutting, dull or sharp and burning. With the disease, frequent urination is observed, accompanied by pain. In the urine with a viral lesion of the mucous membrane, blood may appear. Burning and itching are the most common manifestations of cystitis after a pain syndrome. In addition, the general condition worsens, the temperature may rise.
• Candidiasis or thrush is a fungal disease that affects the genitals. It is characterized by abundant white discharge of a curdled consistency, pain during intercourse and a burning sensation during urination. The disease often occurs with the abnormal use of antibiotics, nervous breakdowns and promiscuous sexual intercourse.
• Salpingitis is an inflammation of the fallopian tubes. Several types of microbes provoke it simultaneously: E. coli, streptococci, staphylococci. A patient with an acute form of the disease has a temperature, pain in the lower abdomen, urinary upset, general weakness. The chronic course passes with constant pain in the lower abdomen in the absence of other symptoms.

In all cases, if women have a burning sensation during urination, you should visit a doctor, find out the reasons and start treatment.

Urethritis in men

This is a disease in which the mucous membrane of the urethra is inflamed. Infectious urethritis infection occurs sexually with gonorrhea, chlamydia or Escherichia coli, staphylococcus when bacteria from other foci of inflammation.

A non-infectious form of the disease is formed as a result of a mechanical injury to the walls of the urethra. A couple of days after infection, men have a burning sensation after urination and during it. In addition, pain is felt and purulent or mucous discharge is disturbed, redness is observed, in the morning the sponges of the urethra stick together. Blood and seminal fluid appear in the urine.

The general state of health does not deteriorate. After about two weeks, the symptoms disappear. The disease becomes chronic if there was no appropriate treatment. The symptoms remain the same, only less pronounced. Sometimes the disease goes away for a long time asymptomatic and is detected by chance during the examination. Treatment is carried out for ten days with antibacterial drugs. With untimely healing, pyelonephritis, cystitis or prostatitis can subsequently develop.

Sexually transmitted diseases in women

Most often, in women, burning after urination occurs with various infections of the genitourinary organs. These include:

• Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted disease. The complexity of the treatment lies in the resistance of Trichomonas to many drugs. The incubation period lasts up to a month, sometimes longer. After this, the woman feels pain during urination, itching and burning after emptying. A characteristic sign of the disease are foamy, yellowish vaginal discharge. With untimely treatment, the menstrual cycle and sexual functions are violated.
• Gonorrhea. This disease in women often goes away without any symptoms or is confused by excreta with thrush, and pain with cystitis. The causative agent of infection affects the mucous membrane of the urethra, fallopian tubes and the body of the uterus. A woman feels itching and burning after urination, the mucous membrane becomes edematous, there is pain in the lower abdomen and purulent discharge with mucus from the vagina. Due to the complex diagnosis, the disease often flows into a chronic form. As a result, a woman develops joint pain, the menstrual cycle is disrupted, ectopic pregnancy and infertility occur. With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable.
  
• Chlamydia It is a very common disease, especially among young people, often goes away without any signs. The bacteria that cause the disease have greater resistance to adverse conditions. When a woman becomes infected, a low-grade fever rises, which normalizes over time. In this case, pulling pains appear in the lower abdomen, the cervix, the fallopian tubes become inflamed, itching, burning, pain during urination and after it torment. One of the main symptoms is yellowish or white discharge, which has an unpleasant odor and purulent-mucous structure. The causes of burning after urination are inflammation and a large number of secretions that irritate the mucous membrane. The consequences can be severe lesions of the urinary system. For the timely detection of chlamydia, regular medical examinations are necessary.

Vaginal inflammation

It occurs mainly from infection through sexual contact. Vaginitis in most cases is accompanied by pain during urination. This happens due to edema of organs located near the vagina. Infection often affects the urinary system. The disease is accompanied by a burning sensation during urination and discharge of a light shade, having a mucous, curdled or purulent consistency, often with an unpleasant odor. The pain is sometimes localized on the skin near the vagina due to irritation from the discharge. The acute form of the disease has more pronounced symptoms than chronic. Untimely seeking help leads to complications associated with inflammatory diseases of the genitals.

Treatment for burning during urination in women

Therapy always depends on the diagnosis made by the doctor:

• Treatment of urolithiasis is carried out using alkaline or acidic drinking. Ultrasonic crushing of stones is used. Surgery is sometimes performed.
• In diseases caused by pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, antibacterial drugs are prescribed. Fluoroquinolones with a wide spectrum of action are often used. To relieve spasms and pain, “No-shpa” can be prescribed, and Indomethacin is used for anti-inflammatory drugs. With vaginitis, candles and local preparations are used: creams and ointments. In acute cystitis, thermal procedures are performed to reduce burning sensation and pain during urination, using a heating pad on the lower abdomen and warm sitting baths with a solution of boric acid, potassium permanganate or decoctions of herbs from chamomile and calendula at home.
• When confirming the neurological nature of the disease, sedative drugs are prescribed. Often used herbal medicines “Fitosed” and “Sedavit”.
  
• Pain of menopause syndrome is treated with hormonal drugs, it is possible to use Ovestin.
• Herbal remedies are often used for treatment. They help reduce the inflammatory process, relieve pain and burning. The intimate gel “Ginokomfort” eliminates discomfort quite well. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and regenerative effects.
• To alleviate the symptoms will help diet and proper drinking regimen.

Treatment will give positive results only if the instructions of the attending physician are strictly followed.

Folk remedies

Despite the various clinical forms, the cause of many diseases accompanied by burning and pain during urination is the infectious process. Herbalists have accumulated many recipes to eliminate these symptoms. Alternative medicine usually complements the main methods of treating burning sensation during urination. To do this, use the following recipes:

• Stinging nettle. A tablespoon of dry raw materials pour a glass of boiling water, insist for 10 minutes and take three times a day for a spoon. The infusion reduces inflammation and has a diuretic effect.
• Pharmaceutical camomile. To prepare the infusion, take a tablespoon of a dry plant and pour a glass of boiling water. It can be used for oral administration one spoon three times a day and added to water for bathing. It has antibacterial properties, relieves burning and itching.
• Hernia To prepare the broth, take a tablespoon of raw materials, pour a glass of boiling water, stand on a steam bath for five minutes. Take up to five times a tablespoon. It has a good diuretic effect, reduces cramping and acute pain.

It is not recommended to conduct treatment using only non-native methods. Even after eliminating the unpleasant symptoms, you should consult a doctor to find out the causes and drug therapy.

Prevention

In order to avoid pain, pain and burning sensation during urination, the following simple rules should be followed:

• Refuse frequent change of sexual partner.
• Hygiene of sex is a source of intimate health. Most of the diseases, manifested by burning and pain during urination, are transmitted during intimacy. To prevent the penetration of microbes into the urethra, the bladder should be emptied after intercourse.
• Carefully approach the selection of detergents.
• Underwear is preferable to wear from cotton fabric.
• After visiting the pool, the swimsuit must be thoroughly rinsed with chlorine.
• Follow the rules of intimate hygiene regularly.
• Follow the drinking regimen by drinking two liters of fluid daily.
• In the cold season, avoid overcooling the body.

Normally, the urination process does not cause discomfort, on the contrary, the individual feels relief. In some cases, both men and women experience burning sensation and pain, and women are much more likely, especially those with several sexual partners. Basically, these symptoms are found in people aged 15 to 44 years. This symptom can indicate a variety of diseases, so you should not leave it unattended.