7 Reasons why it burns while peeing

“It burns when I pee!”

If you have ever said this, you are not alone. A condition affecting bladder or urethra can cause pain while urinating. And yes, burning urination or painful urination is really worst to deal with. But, luckily you can end the misery. Here, SMILES explains the top reasons behind burning urination and the ways to treat it.

Painful urination (also referred to as dysuria) is a term that describes discomfort or pain during urination. Dysuria is very common in women than in men. Discomfort when urinating can have various causes that are not due to underlying diseases.

Most of the conditions for the pain while urinating are treatable. However, knowing the exact cause of painful urination is crucial which helps doctors recommend the appropriate treatment -says dysuria treatment experts.

What causes burning or painful urination?

Burning sensation while urinating is usually felt in the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder.

Here are the 7 most common reasons it burns while peeing.

1. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

urinary tract infection typically occurs when any part of your urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra) gets infected. E.coli, a type of bacteria that gets into the urinary tract through the urethra causes most UTIs and leads to frequent urination and burning during urination. Women are more likely to develop urinary tract infections than men because their urethra is shorter. The treatment of UTI involves the course of antibiotics.

2. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea cause a bacterial infection that can affect the urinary tract and lead to painful urination. Also, herpes, an extremely common viral infection causes blister-like lesions on the genitals and pain while peeing. Most of the STDs are generally treated with antibiotics, however, some untreated STDs can lead to death.

3. Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis (IC) or painful bladder syndrome (PBS) is another common cause of pain while urinating. Painful bladder syndrome is an inflammatory disease that causes inflammation or ulceration of the bladder’s lining. Tricyclic antidepressants can improve the symptoms of dysuria in patients with IC.

4. Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are a collection of solid materials such as calcium and uric acid that form hardened stones in the kidneys. Sometimes, kidney stones travel through the area where the urine enters the bladder. This causes burning urination or painful urination. Treatment of kidney stones includes drinking plenty of water and taking over the counter medications.

5. Vaginal Infection

An uncomfortable burning sensation while urinating can also be caused due to the overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in the vagina. Vaginal infection is pretty common that happens for every 3 out of 4 women at some point in their lives. Over the counter, antifungal creams and suppositories are the most common to treat vaginal yeast infections.

6. Uterine Cancer

Painful urination and vaginal bleeding can also be caused due to uterine cancer, a type of cancer that begins in the uterus. Though the exact cause of uterine cancer is unknown, risk factors include being overweight and starting periods at an early age may put women at risk. Treatment of uterine cancer depends on the stage of cancer that includes radiation therapy.

7. Using Feminine Hygiene Products

To keep the vaginal area clean, it is not the case that it should be cleaned with deodorizes and perfumes. The vagina has a good self-cleaning protocol to keep its pH in balance. But when you use products like douches or vaginal lubricants, you may end up with irritation that leads to burning urination. Don’t need anything beyond fragrance-free soaps and water to clean your vagina.

If the burning sensation while peeing is consistent, do not ignore to seek medical treatment. Otherwise symptoms may get worse. Painful urination treatment doctors may recommend lab tests that help diagnose the exact cause of dysuria symptoms and give appropriate treatment.