Burning And Painful Urination In Women And Men

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Burning and painful urination in women and men

A healthy person does not experience any discomfort when urinating. But in some people, this process is accompanied by severe pain and burning.

There are two types of urinary disorders, diagnosed by these symptoms:

• Urethritis, in which pain during the act of urination is caused by infectious agents (bacteria or microscopic fungi);
• Dysuria, in which the same symptoms are caused by squeezing or blockage of the urethra by a hematoma, tumor, or stone.

Both men and women at different ages are exposed to them.

Content:

• Features of pain syndrome when urinating

  • Among women
  • In men
  • When should i see a doctor?
• Non-infectious causes common to men and women
• Any infection can cause pain
• Causes of pain and burning sensation when urinating in women

• Causes of pain and burning sensation when urinating in men

  Sexually Transmitted Infectious Diseases

• Why do we feel pain when urinating?

  Pain when urinating in children

• Why is inflammation of the urethra dangerous for men and women?
• Diagnostics in case of urination disorders

• Treatment of pain and burning sensation when urinating

  • Treatment in women
  • Treatment in men

• Folk remedies and herbal preparations

  • Herbal preparations
  • Top 7 best diuretic herbs for urinary problems
• Which doctors should I contact?

Features of pain syndrome when urinating

Among women

The causes of painful urination in women are varied. One can suspect a particular disease by the symptoms that manifest the disease, namely, by how the process of emptying the bladder occurs. Features to look out for:

• Urethritis - pain and burning sensation appear immediately after the onset of urination.
• Cystitis - pain and pain occur at the end of the act.
• Mixed infection with lesions of the urethra, kidneys, bladder: pain occurs throughout the entire process of urination.
• Urolithiasis - blood is visible in the urine, it appears after a painful attack in the lumbar region.
• Tumors of the urinary system - hematuria combined with painful urination.
• Vulvitis or vaginitis - pain when trying to empty the bladder and burning in the vagina.
• Atrophy of the mucous membranes against the background of hormonal imbalance: pain during urination and discomfort during intercourse.

In men

If a man is in pain when he just starts urinating, this may indicate an infection in the urethra - urethritis.

When she's worried about emptying her bladder, it makes sense to have her prostate examined for prostatitis.

When should i see a doctor?

Contacting a specialist should not be postponed when the following symptoms appear:

• Unpleasant sensations of pain, cramps and burning, accompanying the process of urination;
• The presence of atypical discharge from a woman's vagina and from a man's penis;
• Duration of symptoms is more than 2 days;
• Pain in the lower abdomen, perineum, lower back;
• Weakness, fever, deterioration in performance.

In case of pain, cramps, burning sensation confined to the genital area during urination in men and women, it is necessary to visit the following specialists:

• Urologist;
• Venereologist;
• Gynecologist;
• Dermatovenereologist;
• Andrologist;
• Pediatrician (if the child has urinary problems).

Non-infectious causes common to men and women

The causes of pain and burning when emptying the bladder can also be non-infectious:

• Severe hypothermia of the body. This reason, in addition to discomfort, can also provoke the formation of kidney stones.
• Urolithiasis is a urolithiasis. With it, there is a constant feeling of overflow of the bladder.
• The movement of sand through the urethra can injure the epithelium lining this canal and cause pain.
• Injuries to the urethra can be accompanied by pain, burning, and cuts every time you use the toilet.
• Renal colic occurs when the outflow of urine from the kidneys is disturbed as a result of blockage of the urinary tract by a stone, a conglomerate of urinary salts, a blood clot or mucus, etc. It may occur against the background of urolithiasis.
• Blockage of the ureteral canal. In this situation, salts, stones, blood clots will pass through the urinary canal and cause pain.
• Tumors in the genitourinary system can obstruct the flow of urine and cause severe pain.
• Benign and malignant tumors and other formations in organs adjacent to the genitourinary system. There are cases when rectal tumors compress the urethra, causing discomfort.
• Gout. With this disease, the urine contains a large amount of uric acid crystals. Their movement along the urethra causes pain.
• Chemical agents of cosmetics and contraceptives. Fragrances, dyes, stabilizers contained in soaps, shower gels, condoms can cause an allergic reaction and lead to pain when urinating.
• Damage to the epithelium of the urethra by chemical agents. It occurs with an abundance of oxalates in the urine (with gout), glucose (diabetes mellitus), toxic substances (after excessive intake of medications, the use of spicy food and alcohol).

• Surgical intervention. Having a catheter can cause pain and burning when urinating.
• Pubic lice can also cause discomfort when urinating.

Any infection can cause pain

The process of inflammation in the urethra occurs when the most favorable conditions for the pathogenic microorganisms present there develop. The most common causes of most urethritis are caused by sexually transmitted infections. In turn, infectious urethritis is divided into: specific, caused by pathogens such as gonococci, Trichomonas, ureaplasma, chlamydia, mycoplasma, etc.; and nonspecific, caused by microorganisms that are part of the normal microflora of the oral cavity, vagina and rectum - staphylococcus, E.coli, streptococcus, etc.

Conditionally pathogenic microflora can sharply increase its growth as a result of a decrease in the body's immune status. This can happen with a sharp and frequent hypothermia, stress, lack of rest and sleep, inadequate and inadequate nutrition, exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Insufficient personal hygiene can have a detrimental effect on the health of the genitourinary system. Pathogenic microflora of the rectum is localized near the anus. Failure to observe hygiene provokes the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems and causes illness. As a rule, any infection developing in one focus rises along an ascending path. If the process is not stopped in time, the inflammation will affect the bladder, kidneys and ureters, and can also go to neighboring organs. In men, the prostate gland can also be affected.

Causes of pain and burning sensation when urinating in women

• Infectious diseases of the vagina. Colpitis, candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginitis may be accompanied by the penetration of infection into the urethra, which will cause pain and burning sensation every time you go to the toilet. A woman should definitely pay attention to unnatural discharge with an unpleasant odor.
• Cystitis. Women suffer from cystitis more often due to the individual characteristics of the anatomical structure. Such as the length and width of the urethra, through which microbes from the rectum easily penetrate into the bladder and provoke an inflammatory reaction. However, a woman may experience symptoms of cystitis in other diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems. In addition to pain, a woman experiences frequent urge to urinate and a constant feeling of fullness in the bladder.
• Endo- and myometritis. The term endometritis is understood as inflammation of the endometrium - the upper layer of mucous tissue lining the uterus from the inside. It can occur in both acute and chronic forms. Endomyometritis is characterized by inflammation of the deeper tissues of the uterus. These conditions also cause pain when urinating.
• Vaginal and intestinal candidiasis. A burning sensation occurs as a result of the abundant growth of Candida fungi. Popularly, this disease is called thrush for the characteristic discharge of a milky white color.
• Inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis). Inflammation of the kidneys causes not only discomfort when urinating, but also pain in the lower back and perineum.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The most common cause of painful urethritis. The most common venereal diseases are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, ureaplasmosis, trichomoniasis, herpes, mycoplasmosis.
• Exacerbations after previous infections. Influenza, SARS, purulent tonsillitis, sinusitis and other diseases can seriously undermine the body's immunity and provoke problems with urination.
• Inflammatory processes in the intestines. due to its proximity, inflammation can also affect the genitourinary system.

Causes of pain and burning sensation when urinating in men

These unpleasant symptoms for men can be caused by traumatic injury to the perineum or occur after intercourse. However, they can also occur due to natural causes, for example, after eating spicy and spicy foods. But the most common causes are bacterial and fungal infections.

• Prostatitis. When the prostate gland is inflamed, it can also affect the urogenital canal. In addition to pain when emptying the bladder, men also experience pain in the scrotum, perineum, lumbar and sacral spine.
• Atrophy of the prostate gland. It occurs in men with an overactive sex life, which leads to the depletion of the prostate gland. Usually, this gland provides a disinfecting effect in the urogenital canal. However, if this does not happen, dangerous bacteria or fungi can grow unhindered and cause inflammation.
• BPH. Defined as a benign neoplasm of the prostate gland. Hinders the passage of urine, causes pain.
• Urogenital tuberculosis. This disease may not manifest itself for a long time, but is characterized only by pain and a periodic decrease in potency. In Russia, this disease is considered difficult to diagnose despite the fact that the number of patients remains large. The difficulties are due to the lack of qualified personnel, equipment and materials.

A serious problem is that, with a sluggish course of the disease, urine tests for infection are often unreliable. In the absence of the necessary experience and practice, a specialist often prescribes an inadequate diagnosis and incorrectly determines further treatment. For example, short-term antibiotic treatment, which does not give the desired effect.

Sexually Transmitted Infectious Diseases

• Urogenital chlamydia. Recently, this disease has become widespread. The difficulty lies in the untimely manifestation of signs of infection, since it has been hidden for a long time. The patient notices the disease when it manifests itself in an acute form. In this case, the patient suffers from unpleasant vitreous discharge from the genitals, fever, weakness, traces of blood in the semen and in the urine, pain and burning sensation when urine passes through the urethra.
• Urea - and mycoplasmosis. Asymptomatic latent and at the same time dangerous infections. Unpleasant sensations arise exclusively in the acute phase of the course of the disease.
• Trichomoniasis (trichomoniasis). The disease is caused by parasitizing in the urethra, prostate gland and seminal vesicles of microscopic protozoa - Trichomonas. In addition to pain and burning sensation, purulent and foamy discharge, elongated blood conglomerates in the urine and semen occur. Leads to the disorder of the entire genitourinary system.
• Gonococcal infection. Gonorrhea disrupts the normal process of urination, accompanied by pain and burning. When gonococci cause an acute development of infection, the urethra swells greatly, and a greenish-yellow discharge occurs from the penis. The disease can become chronic.
• Oncological diseases of the prostate, kidneys, bladder, intestines. Neoplasms located near the urethra can squeeze and constrict the urethra, causing the above discomfort.

Why do we feel pain when urinating?

As mentioned above, the causes of painful emptying of the bladder can be infectious (urethritis) and non-infectious (dysuria).

A burning sensation during urination occurs when the cell layer of the walls of the urethra, or urethra, is damaged and destroyed. The reason for this is almost always the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. They destroy the cells lining the urethra from the inside and release toxic waste products. That is why the inflammatory process is accompanied by unpleasant discharge. Since the integrity of the epithelium is violated, the nerve endings under it are exposed.

Pain when urinating in children

Children urinate much more often than adults. This is due to the fact that they have a smaller bladder, but they drink more water in relation to body weight. In addition, children are not able to hold back for a long time if they want to use the toilet, as this skill develops over time.

Sometimes children experience pain when urinating. Here, the cause may also be urinary tract infections, which are more common in girls than boys. The fact is that in early childhood, children do not carefully observe personal hygiene. Some boys may have a congenital urinary outflow disorder. Sometimes young children can insert foreign objects into the urinary tract on their own, scratching the urethra and causing pain.

Also, pain and burning sensation during going to the toilet in children can be associated with excessive consumption of foods that irritate the urethra: coca-cola, chocolate, chips.

Why is inflammation of the urethra dangerous for men and women?

The danger is due to the anatomical features of the floors. In both sexes, the urethra (or urethra), through which urine moves from a full bladder to the outside, has different lengths. In women, it is shorter and wider in diameter, therefore, when inflammation occurs, it quickly spreads to the organs lying higher - the bladder, ureters, kidneys.

The urethra in men, on the contrary, is very long, but narrow, the ducts of the prostate gland, which have an antiseptic effect, flow into it. Therefore, men are less likely to suffer from urethritis. But, if a man does get sick, then the inflammatory process primarily affects the prostate (prostatitis), then goes to the epididymis (epididymitis), and reaches the seminal vesicles (vesiculitis). Thus, an infectious lesion of the urogenital canal of men completely affects the reproductive organs.

Diagnostics in case of urination disorders

Usually, after visiting a specialist, the patient is prescribed the following examinations and tests:

• General blood analysis;
• Cytoscopy;
• Sowing a smear of the contents of the cervical canal;
• General urine analysis;
• Bacteriological examination of urine;
• Urine analysis by the Nechiporenko method;
• Uroflowmetry (determination of the rate of urine excretion);
• Ultrasound of all organs located in the pelvic region:
• Analysis for all STIs (sexually transmitted infections) by ELISA and PCR;
• If necessary, MRI examination of the lumbar and sacrum.

After a thorough examination, a specialist prescribes treatment. Usually, treatment consists of taking appropriate antibiotic agents, selected taking into account the specificity of the pathogen. In addition, immunotherapy will be prescribed to restore and activate the protective functions of the body. If necessary, local treatment will be carried out - the introduction of drugs directly into the affected organ.

If the cause of the discomfort during urination is not of an infectious nature, then treatment depends on establishing the cause of the discomfort. Surgical intervention is possible if there are injuries, tumors, large kidney stones.

In addition to treatment, the patient will be recommended a lifestyle that promotes a speedy recovery. This is an abundant drink to increase the volume of urine, complete or partial rejection of spicy and spicy foods, fast food, alcohol, avoidance of strong chills and overheating (for example, in a bath). Abstinence will also be recommended until recovery.

Treatment of pain and burning sensation when urinating

It is impossible to ignore the discomfort that occurs when urinating, since over time they will gain intensity. Treatment depends on the cause of the pain. If an infection has become a triggering factor, broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are prescribed. When conducting a test to determine the sensitivity of an infectious flora, it is possible to select a targeted therapy.

Treatment in women

When cystitis is confirmed, women are prescribed the following drugs:

• Monural. An effective antibiotic that is active against most infectious agents that can provoke the development of cystitis in women. The drug has 3 forms of release: suspension, granules, powder. The drug is taken once, which allows you to get rid of acute cystitis, since in the chronic form of the disease, the drug is not prescribed.
• Nolitsin. A broad-spectrum antibiotic from the group of fluoroquinolones of the second generation. It is used to kill bacteria that are resistant to other antibacterial drugs. Nolitsin is indicated for cystitis and other infectious diseases of the urinary system, accompanied by pain and burning during urination.
• Nitroxoline. A combined preparation that destroys not only microbial flora, but also Candida fungi. Indicated for use in various infections of the urinary system.
• Furagin. Antimicrobial agent of a wide spectrum of action from the group of nitrofurans. Differs in high efficiency, as the microbial flora slowly develops resistance to it.
• Nevigramon. This urological antiseptic is based on nalidixic acid, which is active against bacteria that affect the kidneys, ureters and bladder.
• Rulid. A broad-spectrum antibiotic from the macrolide group. The drug can be used to treat cystitis.
• Furadonin. The drug can be used for both treatment and prevention of cystitis.

If painful urination is a consequence of urolithiasis (kidney stones), the patient is shown taking medications that relieve spasm and pain. A prerequisite is adherence to diet and drinking regime. The patient should drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water per day. Such volumes allow high-quality flushing of the bladder, contributing to the elimination of pathogenic flora from it and a speedy recovery.

In order to reduce discomfort, women are prescribed a gel for the intimate area with chamomile extract, tea tree oil, lactic acid and panthenol. It promotes the speedy regeneration of tissues, the destruction of pathogenic flora, and the removal of inflammation. The use of the gel allows you to reduce the intensity of symptoms and speed up recovery.

Treatment in men

Therapy for painful urination in men should be etiotropic, that is, aimed at the cause that provoked this symptom. The treatment is based on such groups of drugs as:

• Antibiotics. They are prescribed to destroy the microbial flora, with bacterial inflammation. Treatment of most sexually transmitted diseases cannot be complete without them.
• Uroantiseptics. They are aimed at disinfecting the urinary system, are active against pathogenic flora: viruses, bacteria and fungi.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs. They are used to reduce tissue swelling, relieve inflammation and make the patient feel better.
• Antispasmodics. Their action is aimed at relieving tension from the smooth muscles lining the organs of the urinary system. Taking drugs allows you to save a person from excruciating pain.

The list of drugs for each group is extensive. Only a doctor can choose a specific drug.

Self-medication is dangerous. The wrong choice of drugs entails the development of severe complications and provokes the progression of the disease, up to dysfunction of the genitourinary system.

Folk remedies and herbal preparations

Infections and other pathologies of the urinary system that provoke pain during urination can be treated not only with pharmaceuticals, but also with herbal preparations.

Herbal preparations

• Cyston. A combined preparation based on an aqueous extract of medicinal plants. It is prescribed for urolithiasis, for the gradual reduction of stones in size and for the removal of inflammation from the organs of the urinary system. The drug prevents an increase in the number of microbial flora and promotes the death of bacteria. Taking it enhances the effect of antibiotic treatment.
• Lingonberry leaves. A decoction based on them contributes to the disinfection of the organs of the urinary system and the rapid removal of inflammation. This is possible due to the presence of phenol glycosides in their composition.
• Cranberry juice. Scientists have proven its benefits for cystitis. Cranberry acts as a natural antibiotic that does not harm human health. Fruit drink can be used both for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, for acute and chronic cystitis. Morse does not have to be cooked on your own, the highly concentrated Monurel cranberry extract is sold ready-made.
• Sunflower root. This is one of the most effective remedies for the treatment of urolithiasis provoked by phosphate, urate and oxalate stones. However, calculi formed by proteins or magnesium are not sensitive to sunflower root therapy.

Top 7 best diuretic herbs for urinary problems

• Erva the Woolly. Due to the diuretic effect, excess uric acid, urea, chlorides are removed from the body. Its reception stabilizes the water-salt balance, helps to relieve inflammation from the urinary system.
• Bearberry. The herb has a complex effect on the body: it destroys the microbial flora, sterilizes urine, strengthens the walls of nephrocytes, and has a diuretic effect. This is possible due to its rich composition, which includes arbutin, gallic acid methyl ester, hydroquinone. The herb is indicated for use in urolithiasis.
• Sprawling cornflower. The main therapeutic effects are pain relief and suppression of the activity of the microbial flora that provokes the development of pyelonephritis. Treatment must be carried out in the system.
• Horsetail. This herb is a powerful diuretic. In addition to the diuretic effect, it has antioxidant and antibiotic properties. Horsetail treatment should not last longer than 6 weeks. Exceeding these terms can cause the development of seizures and turn into a potassium deficiency in the body.
• Orthosyphon. The herb is brewed and drunk as a medicinal tea. It is indicated for admission for various diseases of the urinary system, as it has a diuretic and antispasmodic effect, affecting smooth muscles.
• Juniper. Taking berries stimulates the formation of urine, so they are used as an aid in the treatment of diseases of the urinary system.
• St. John's wort. The herb has a diuretic effect, relieves inflammation, acts as an astringent. It can be used to treat infectious and non-infectious diseases of the urinary system.

Which doctors should I contact?

Pain when emptying the bladder is a reason for contacting a therapist. If, within the framework of his competence, he cannot find out the cause of this pathological symptom, the patient will be redirected to a narrow specialist. This could be:

• Gynecologist. His visit is a must for every woman suffering from painful urination. Examination of the female reproductive system allows you to find out the causes and factors provoking the development of the disease.
• Urologist. Male patients are referred to him, but women also often become his patients, especially when it comes to urolithiasis.
• Venereologist. It is possible that painful urination is associated with STDs. It is the venereologist who will help to deal with this.

[Video] Doctor dermatovenerologist, urologist Sergey Gennadievich Lenkin will tell you in more detail what to do with cramps and burning sensation when urinating in women:

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.