Burning sensation when urinating in women, causes and treatment

Physiology of urine output

Urination is necessary to remove unnecessary metabolic products and harmful chemical compounds from the body.
Urine itself is formed in the kidney tissue as a result of blood filtration: nephrons successively remove ballast substances from the blood vessels and return necessary components, such as proteins and salts, to the bloodstream. More than one hundred liters of primary urine can be formed per day, but as a result of final filtration, 800-1500 milliliters of liquid per day are removed from the body. The excretory fluid formed in the kidneys penetrates into other parts of the excretory system for accumulation and gradual removal from the body. Approximately 500 ml of urine can be deposited in the bladder, and a person begins to feel the need to urinate when a quarter of the organ’s volume is filled. The signal received from the brain relaxes the sphincter and promotes the removal of fluid from the body through the urethra. In men, part of the urethra passes through the prostate gland, so prostate pathologies can cause dysuria.

Causes of the symptom

As already mentioned, the most common cause of itching during urination is infection. Pathogenic microorganisms penetrate the mucous membranes and cause an inflammatory process. Increased pain during urine output can be explained by the effect of the liquid on the receptors of inflamed tissues. At the same time, often unpleasant sensations do not go away after urination and torment a person for a long time.

Possible causes of dysuria:

1. Urolithiasis, characterized by the formation of stones in the bladder or urethra. Hard structures irritate the mucous membrane of organs during the movement of urine and cause inflammation. A common sign of this disease is the appearance of blood in the urine.
2. Kidney stones are the formation of stones in the kidneys. Stones from the kidney tissue can also travel to the underlying parts of the excretory system and cause blockage of the tract.
3. Infectious or non-infectious inflammation of the bladder (cystitis).
4. An abnormal narrowing of the urethra, making it difficult for urine to flow.
5. Sexually transmitted diseases affecting the urogenital tract.
6. Inflammation of the prostate gland in men, manifested by tissue swelling and compression of the urethra.
7. Oncological diseases. Dysuria occurs with the growth of malignant neoplasms of the prostate and bladder.
8. Inflammation of the kidney tubules due to a bacterial or viral infection (pyelonephritis).
9. Gynecological diseases in women. First of all, this is vaginitis, in which inflammation can spread to the tissue of the urethra.

If the doctor's examination fails to detect the specific disease causing the pain, additional factors are considered. Dysuria often occurs due to poor nutrition or other features of a person’s lifestyle.

Why does a burning sensation occur after urination in men?

In men, the length of the urethra is much longer than in women, so bacterial inflammation occurs less frequently in them, and among the main causes, in addition to sexually transmitted infections, the following can be identified:

• The consequences of inflammation of the urethra are urethritis.
• Urolithiasis, when sediments of urine, consisting of insoluble salts, irritate the mucous membrane, passing through the urethra.
• Most often, burning sensation after urination in men occurs in the presence of various diseases of the prostate gland (for example, prostatitis), which provoke a violation of the outflow of urine.

Risk factors

Urologists are aware of certain signs and primary diseases associated with dysuria. These forms of predisposition should be taken into account when conducting diagnostics.

Key risk factors:

1. Female. The narrower and shorter urethra in women is more likely to be invaded by pathogenic microorganisms.
2. Treatment of oncology with chemotherapy. Painful urination can be a side effect of cytotoxic and cytostatic drugs.
3. Age from 45 years for men. In middle-aged and elderly patients, prostatitis or prostate adenoma is more often diagnosed.
4. Using unsafe intimate hygiene products, getting soap or shower gel into the urethra.
5. Allergic reactions to various substances and tissues that come into contact with the external genitalia.
6. Impaired immune function, facilitating the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms into the organs of the genitourinary system.
7. Long-term catheterization of the bladder.
8. Recent diagnostic procedures, such as a urethral smear.
9. Surgical interventions in the area of ​​the external genitalia and bladder.
10. Eating too spicy foods and coffee.

Discomfort when urinating, not accompanied by other symptoms, is often due to allergies and hygiene products.

Causes of urethritis in women

The cause is infection. But sometimes the urethra is damaged by non-infectious agents. Therefore, the disease is divided into two types:

• infectious
• non-infectious (can be non-specific and specific)

Specific urethritis is a common inflammation with the discharge of pus. Symptoms depend on the causative agent of the pathology. Mainly:

• staphylococci
• streptococci
• coli

This type of urethritis occurs when a woman contracts sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) through unprotected sex.

Causative agents of infectious specific inflammation of the urethra:

• Trichomonas
• gonococci
• mycoplasma
• chlamydia
• Candida mushrooms

An infectious type of urethritis in women can be triggered by viruses, in most cases these are genital warts (causing HPV) or the herpes virus.

Causes of non-infectious inflammation of the urethra:

• first sexual intercourse
• venous congestion in the pelvic vessels
• diseases of the female sphere
• allergic diseases
• entry into the urethra of foreign objects that irritate the walls of the canal
• trauma to the canal when independently inserting various objects into it, during catheterization or during cystoscopy
• urethral cancer, which also causes inflammation
• urolithiasis (small stones enter the urethra and its layer is damaged)

A woman can become infected with infectious urethritis:

• during sexual intercourse
• through blood

If barrier contraception was not used during sexual intercourse, there is a very high risk of contracting urethritis. Through the blood (hematogenous route), pathogens enter the urethra through dishes, or from the zone of chronic inflammation. Such zones can be:

• tuberculosis
• tonsillitis
• chronic sinusitis
• teeth with caries

A high risk of urethritis occurs in those women who have one or more of the following factors:

• pregnancy (immunity is reduced, so the infection takes over the body faster and easier, and the balance of hormones changes, which also contributes to the development of the disease)
• significant psycho-emotional stress, constant stress
• constant consumption of alcoholic beverages
• excessive cooling of the body
• genital injury
• diseases of the genitourinary system of various types
• chronic inflammation in the body
• violation of personal hygiene rules
• reduced immunity as a result of a deficiency of vitamins in the body, strict diets, poor nutrition, serious illnesses in the past, etc.

Other symptoms

Burning during urination is rarely the only symptom of a disease of the genitourinary system. As a rule, patients complain of other unpleasant sensations associated with the functions of the kidneys, bladder and genitals. Isolated dysuria may indicate the absence of infection.

Additional signs:

• discomfort in the pubic area, perineum and lower back;
• bleeding in the urine (hematuria);
• increased body temperature;
• nausea and vomiting;
• discharge of cloudy fluid from the urethra;
• decreased libido;
• weak stream when urinating;
• soreness of the skin in the area of ​​the external genitalia;
• unpleasant odor in urine;
• false urge to defecate;
• fatigue and weakness.

Prolonged fever, accompanied by difficulty urinating, indicates the development of a dangerous infection.

Vaginal burning: vaginal mycosis

The content of the article

The cause of burning pain in the vagina can be vaginal thrush. This is also indicated by redness, swelling and itching of the vulva and vagina. With thrush, symptoms usually worsen after sexual intercourse or before menstruation.

Thrush

The most characteristic symptom of this disease is vaginal discharge, resembling lumps of cottage cheese and sticking to the walls of the vagina.

Diagnostics

To undergo examinations, you must make an appointment with a urologist. The doctor will ask the patient in detail about his complaints and examine his individual history. A physical examination can detect symptoms of damage to the genitourinary system. Women are also recommended to undergo a gynecological examination to exclude pathology of the external or internal genital organs. The final diagnosis can be made after receiving the results of instrumental and laboratory studies.

Diagnostic tests for dysuria:

1. Blood test for biochemistry and formed components. An excessive number of neutrophilic leukocytes indicates an acute infectious process. A high level of PSA may be found in the blood of men - this indicator may be a sign of prostate disease.
2. Urine examination. Detection of white blood cells in the urine also indicates infection. In addition, a specialist can identify red blood cells and proteins in the material.
3. Cytological and microbiological examination of material obtained using a urethral smear. For women, doctors prescribe a smear of the cervical mucosa. These manipulations are aimed at detecting and identifying the infectious agent.
4. Ultrasound imaging of the bladder, prostate and kidneys. Real-time imaging of organs allows detection of structural pathologies.
5. Cystoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the inner lining of the bladder.
6. X-ray with contrast or computed tomography.

Specific examination methods are prescribed based on the patient’s symptoms and individual medical history.

Diagnostic measures

The scope of diagnostic measures is prescribed by the doctor after a clinical examination of the woman, details of complaints and standard methods of auscultation, percussion, and palpation.

Pasternatsky's symptom (pain when tapping the kidney projection) is a characteristic sign of pyelonephritis or urolithiasis.

Laboratory diagnostic methods include:

1. General urine analysis. Confirms or excludes inflammation in the urinary tract and the presence of blood.
2. Conducting a two-glass test to determine pathology in the urethra or upper parts of the urinary system.
3. Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko - determines the cellular composition in 1 ml of urine.
4. Urine culture to determine nonspecific pathogens of the inflammatory process and sensitivity to antibiotics.
5. Microscopic examination of smears from the urethra, vagina and cervix.
6. PCR study to identify the DNA of certain pathogens (chlamydia, mycoplasma, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis). In this case, the medium for research can be urine, scrapings from the urethra, vagina and cervix.
7. Ultrasound of the pelvic organs. It will help confirm kidney abnormalities, the presence of stones, signs of cystitis, and pathologies of the female genital organs.
8. X-ray diagnostic methods. The most commonly used are plain radiography and excretory urography with the introduction of a radiopaque substance into a vein. Computed tomography is used in complex diagnostic cases.

Treatment

Since burning in the urethra is only a possible symptom of a pathological condition, the patient needs treatment for the root cause of the unpleasant sensation. Depending on the diagnostic results, the urologist may prescribe surgical or therapeutic treatment.

Possible methods:

• The use of antibiotics to combat bacterial infections. The selection of effective drugs using a test for the sensitivity of microflora to antibiotics improves the prognosis.
• The use of anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics and painkillers.
• A surgical intervention aimed at restoring the patency of the urinary tract, eliminating the source of purulent infection or removing a tumor. Stone removal can be done using minimally invasive procedures.
• A therapeutic diet for diseases of the excretory system, such as urolithiasis and inflammation of the kidney tissue.

In case of an acute infectious process, the patient will require hospitalization.

For discomfort in the vagina

However, if you still experience discomfort, itching and burning in the groin area or intimate area, you can use Epigen Intim medicinal spray to reduce discomfort.
The active component of this medicine is activated glycyrrhizic acid, which is synthesized from licorice root. Epigen Intim spray is compatible with other drugs that a doctor may prescribe for the treatment of vaginal dysbiosis - antibiotics, antiseptics, antifungals. It not only helps eliminate itching and burning, regenerates the skin and mucous membranes in the intimate area, but also works as a local immunostimulator. Epigen Intim spray is suitable even for pregnant women at any stage and nursing mothers. You should not ignore discomfort in the vaginal area. Postponing a trip to the gynecologist “for later” can aggravate the situation: an undetected disease in time can become chronic over time and will be much more difficult to get rid of. As a result, with the slightest decrease in immunity, relapses of inflammation in the intimate area may occur, which can subsequently lead to difficulties with conception or miscarriage. Therefore, if discomfort occurs in the intimate area, you should consult a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment.

Complications

Bacteria, viruses and fungi can cause an acute infection that quickly spreads to nearby organs. So, in the case of urethritis and cystitis, an ascending infection affecting the kidney tissue is possible. The negative consequences of such a disease can threaten the patient's life.

Dangerous complications of diseases that cause dysuria:

• Purulent lesion of renal tissue.
• Severe renal failure due to chronic infection.
• Pregnancy disorders in women.
• Penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the bloodstream with the development of sepsis.

Thus, burning when urinating is not a harmless symptom. Diseases of the genitourinary system that cause dysuria can lead to serious complications. Urological examination allows for timely therapeutic or surgical treatment.

When to see a doctor

The presence of a burning sensation when urinating indicates the presence of some kind of disorder. Even if this symptom is not very pronounced and does not cause any particular concern, but does not go away within a few days, it cannot be ignored and you should consult a doctor. Seek medical help as soon as possible if you need:

• pregnancy;
• pain in the groin, side or lower back;
• already diagnosed urolithiasis;
• foul odor of urine;
• cloudiness or blood in the urine;
• feverish condition;
• vaginal/penile discharge.

Since most often the symptom is caused by the presence of inflammation in the organs of the urinary system, you should first consult a urologist. The doctor will conduct an examination, prescribe the necessary tests and, if the need arises, refer you to other specialized specialists: gynecologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist, venereologist.