What Causes Burning Urine or Dysuria?

When you urinate (pee), you get pain or a burning feeling if you have dysuria. Women are more prone to experience dysuria than males, but both genders can have it at any age. Dysuria and urinary tract infections are frequently linked. Antibiotics, avoiding triggers, and addressing the underlying medical condition are all options for treatment, depending on the reason.

What is dysuria (painful urination)

Pain or discomfort could be felt as you urinate (pee). It burns. Although frequent urination is usually seen in association with dysuria, it is not the cause of it. There is no known medical cause for dysuria. It serves as a sign or symptom of a deeper medical issue.

Who has painful urination or dysuria?

No matter their age, both men and women can have painful urination. Women are more prone to it. Dysuria and urinary tract infections (UTIs) frequently go together. More women than men have UTIs.

A greater risk group for dysuria includes:

• Pregnant women.
• Diabetic males and women.
• Males and females have bladder disorders of any kind.

Symptoms of dysuria (painful urination)

Although men and women might experience painful urinating in different ways, both genders typically report it as burning, stinging, or itching. The symptom that is most frequently described is burning.

Pain might start during urinating or continue after urination. A urinary tract infection frequently manifests as pain when you first begin to urinate. A condition with the prostate or bladder may cause pain after urinating. Before and after urinating, men’s penises can continue to hurt.

Both internal and exterior symptoms can affect women. Inflammation or irritation of this delicate skin may be the cause of pain outside of your vaginal area. Internal pain may be caused by a urinary tract infection.

What causes dysuria or painful urination?

Urinary tract infections

Urination that hurts is a common indication of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Urinary tract irritation may potentially be the cause.

The ureters are tubes that move urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Pain while urinating might be brought on by inflammation in any of these organs.

Those who have a vagina are more prone than those who have a penis to experience UTIs. This is so because people with vaginas have shorter urethras. Bacteria have to travel a shorter distance to reach the bladder if the urethra is shorter.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

In the event that you have an STI, you can also feel pain when urinating. Genital herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are some STIs that can make it painful to urinate.

Considering that STIs can occasionally go unnoticed, it’s critical to get tested for them. Many people who engage in sexual activity should have STIs tested.

Prostatitis

Other medical conditions may cause painful urinating. Men who have prostate disease may have painful urination. Here, the prostate gland is inflamed. In the urinary system, it is the main cause of burning, stinging, and pain.

Cystitis

Cystitis can also cause urination pain. The term “painful bladder syndrome” (PBS) is another name for interstitial cystitis (IC). This form of cystitis is the most prevalent.

Radiation therapy can occasionally cause pain in the urethra and bladder. This illness is known as radiation cystitis.

Urethritis

The term “urethritis” designates an inflammation of the urethra, typically brought on by bacterial infection. Urethritis can increase the need to urinate in addition to regularly making urination painful.

Epididymitis

Urination pain can also be brought on by epididymitis, or inflammation of the epididymis in men with a penis. The epididymis, which is located behind the testicles, stores and transports sperm from the testes.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

PID can have an impact on the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and cervix. Among other symptoms, it might result in painful intercourse, painful urination, and abdominal pain.

A bacterial infection that starts in the vagina and spreads to the reproductive organs is typically the root of the dangerous infection known as PID.

Obstructive uropathy

Urine flowing back into the kidneys due to an obstruction in the ureter, bladder, or urethra is known as obstructive uropathy. The causes can vary, but it’s crucial to get medical attention when symptoms appear.

The urethra can narrow due to urethral stricture, which can also cause comparable pain and urination problems.

Kidney stones

If you have kidney stones, it could be uncomfortable to urinate. The urinary tract is home to masses of hardened material called kidney stones.

How is the diagnosis of painful urination or dysuria made?

If you experience burning or pain when you urinate, consult your healthcare professional. Dysuria is a sign of a disorder that may require medical attention. Your healthcare professional will first go over your entire medical history in order to determine the cause of your pain. They will also inquire about any current or previous illnesses you may have, such as diabetes mellitus or immune system issues. In order to evaluate whether an STI might be the source of the pain, he or she might also inquire about your sexual history. Additionally, STI screening tests might be required, particularly if men or women experience discharge from the penis or vagina. You could take a pregnancy test if you are a woman of childbearing age.

Your doctor will also inquire about any tried “home remedies” for managing the dysuria as well as the prescription and over-the-counter medications you now take.

Your doctor will also get a clean catch sample of your urine and inquire about your present symptoms. We’ll check your urine sample for white blood cells, red blood cells, and foreign substances. Your doctor can identify that your urinary tract is inflamed if white blood cells are present. If you have a urinary tract infection, a urine culture will show you what kind of bacteria are responsible for it. Your doctor can choose the medication that will most effectively treat the germs using this information.

Your healthcare professional could advise additional tests to check your bladder or prostate (in men) if there is no indication of infection in your urine sample. The lining of your vagina or urethra may also be swabbed by your healthcare practitioner to look for infection (in women).

Conclusion

Dysuria is a symptom that can be painful, uncomfortable, or give off a burning sensation. Because this symptom is unpleasant, you’ll probably decide to call your doctor. It’s crucial to visit your doctor to find out whether your condition is caused by a urinary tract infection or anything else medical. In any instance, a diagnosis can be made and treatment can begin as soon as you visit your doctor. Make sure to contact Urology Specialist Dr. Dushyant Pawar for more details!