Pain or burning sensation while urinating can be a sign of various problems. It can occur in both men and women due to similar or distinct reasons. Painful micturition, which is the act of urinating, is in itself a symptom representing an array of urinary conditions, according to Dr Govardhan Reddy, Lead Consultant-Urology and Uro-Oncology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru. In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, she lists down the common causes and symptoms to note.
Possible Causes Of Painful Urination
Also known as dysuria, painful, burning, or itching of urethra while urinating is a common urinary symptom experienced by most people at least once over their lifetimes, says research published in the StatPearls Publishing, adding that Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), which is more common in females than in males, are one of the most common causes of dysuria.
Also Read: Habits That Can Help You Prevent a UTI
Other common causes listed include:
- Stones in the bladder, urethra or ureter which is the tube that drains the kidney
- Interstitial cystitis, a type of inflammation in the bladder common in women
- Prostatic enlargement either due to benign or malignant condition
- Retention of urination
- Vaginal, cervical or bowel conditions
Beware Of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
STIs are infections that spread from one person to another mostly through sexual contact. This includes contact with skin, genitals, mouth, rectum, or body fluids. Some STIs can also be transferred from mother-to-child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), eight pathogens are linked to the greatest incidence of STIs, of which only four are currently curable, such as syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis.
The WHO shares that more than 10 lakh STIs are contracted every day worldwide, the majority of which are asymptomatic.
Research suggests sexually transmitted organisms such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Mycoplasma genitalium are the most common cause of male urethritis, which can lead to painful urination as its symptoms.
Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About STI And It’s Prevention, Doctor Elucidates
Symptoms To Note
Common symptoms associated with painful urination or dysuria are:
- Burning
- Frequent urination
- Urgency to pee
- Incomplete urination
- Blood in urine
- Fever with or without chills
Tests And Treatment
According to Dr Reddy, physicians start with basic tests to diagnose the cause of dysuria. These include:
- Urine routine
- Urine culture and sensitivity
- Ultrasound of kidney, ureter and bladder
If the symptoms persists further tests will be ordered, he says, adding, “Treatment will depend on the conditions and since test results take some time to come, physician will initially start with empirical treatment, meaning treatment given based on experience, without precise knowledge of the cause of a disorder, and will change to specific treatment once the diagnosis is established.”