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It can be described as a raw sensation or stinging sensation and can range in intensity from mild to severe.
Burning to urinate may be accompanied by painful or difficult urination (dysuria), a constant urge to urinate, or blood in the urine (hematuria).
It is often accompanied by other symptoms of urinary tract infections, such as dysuria or blood in the urine, and can occur after intercourse in women when there is infection.
Painful urination is usually felt in the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, or in the area around the genitals.
Common causes of burning when urinating
There are many potential causes of burning to urinate. Urinary tract infections and vaginal yeast infections.
Upper urinary tract infections, or kidney infections, can also cause dysuria.
The kidneys become infected when bacteria travel to the kidney from the bladder.
Burning when urinating can be caused by pain and discomfort in the vulva (vulvodynia) or by diseases or conditions of the reproductive system that affect the vulva (external genitalia).
Vaginitis can be caused by an allergic reaction to chemicals (such as spermicides, soap, or bubble bath), low estrogen levels, yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or herpes.
Burning with urination also occurs if damage or injury is experienced in any of the structures of the urinary tract, including the kidney, bladder, urethra, or ureter.
Injuries or trauma can also be the result of sexual abuse.
Urine content can also cause burning when urinating and can be the result of ingesting acidic or spicy foods or drinking caffeine or alcohol.
Women ages 20 to 50 are more likely to experience bladder infections (cystitis) and therefore painful urination.
Men over the age of 50 are more likely to get bladder infections due to prostate problems. Men may experience burning when urinating if they have prostate disease (an inflamed or infected prostate) or cancer.
Pregnant women, people with diabetes, postmenopausal women, and people with bladder disease such as people with a history of kidney stones and men with an enlarged prostate are also at increased risk for upper urinary tract disease and dysuria.
Vaginitis, or inflammation of the vagina, can also cause painful urination.
Urethritis, or inflammation of the urethra, can also cause painful urination.
Causes generally include sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, a reaction to irritating chemicals, or irritation from the insertion of a catheter.
Additional causes of burning when urinating may include:
- Interstitial cystitis.
- Damage to the bladder from radiation therapy.
- Bladder spasms
- Prostate infection
- Psoriasis.
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
- Behçet’s disease.
Chemical irritation of the urethra is the most common cause of painful urination in children. These chemicals often include skin lotions, bubble bath chemicals, or soaps.
Other causes of painful urination in children can include:
- Bacterial bladder infection.
- Viral bladder infection.
- Lip adhesions.
- Minor injuries from activities.
You should see your child’s doctor if any of these symptoms are noted:
- Painful urination lasts more than three days.
- Presence of fever.
- Inability to urinate
- Redness or rash in the genital area.
- Discharge from the penis or vagina.
- Urine that is bloody, or looks cloudy or smelly.
Localized trauma from sexual abuse can also cause painful urination. If you have concerns about child abuse, talk to your child’s doctor.
Symptoms
Painful urination can feel like burning, itching, or itching, and can occur at the start of urination, during urination, or after urination.
People who feel pain at the beginning of urination often have a urinary tract infection. Discomfort after urination can often indicate bladder or prostate problems.
Immediate medical attention should be sought if symptoms are experienced in addition to painful urination, such as:
- Discharge from the penis or vagina.
- Smelly or cloudy urine.
- Frequent urge to urinate.
- Passing of kidney or bladder stones.
- Blood in the urine.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Itching in the genital area.
- Fever.
- Wet accidents in children.
- If you experience burning during urination during pregnancy.
- Painful urination for more than 24 hours.
Diagnosis
To determine the cause of painful urination, your doctor may perform a urinalysis to measure the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, protein, glucose, and the presence of foreign chemicals in your urine.
The presence of white blood cells in the urine may indicate a urinary tract infection.
Your doctor may also perform a urine culture to determine what type of bacteria might be causing a urinary tract infection and what types of antibiotics will best fight the infection.
Some additional tests may include:
- Pelvic exam
- Vaginal fluid exam.
- Urethral swab.
- Kidney or bladder ultrasound.
- Cystoscopy.
- Magnetic resonance.
- Computed tomography.
- Tests for the detection of sexually transmitted infections.
Treatment for dysuria and related conditions
Treatment for painful urination will differ depending on the cause of the discomfort.
Antibiotics are recommended for urinary tract infections, and dysuria usually improves within a few days.
If there is skin irritation that has caused inflammation, your doctor may recommend that you avoid anything that is causing the skin irritation.
Vaginitis is usually treated with antibiotics, and yeast infections are often treated with antifungal medications.
If the burning is caused by a serious kidney infection such as pyelonephritis, your doctor may give you antibiotics through a vein before recommending an oral course of antibiotics.
Your doctor can also give you recommendations to help reduce the level of pain, which may include drinking more fluids daily, taking over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tyenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), or changing dietary habits.
If irritation from chemicals such as bubble bath is experienced in children, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter diaper rash cream.
Prevention of dysuria and the conditions that can cause it
There are several changes in daily habits that can prevent painful urination. Drinking several glasses of water a day can reduce the risk of dysuria.
Safe sexual practices, such as using a condom, can also prevent sexually transmitted diseases that can cause painful urination.
Swimsuits wet for too long can cause irritation, and frequent bubble baths should not be taken either.
Women are advised to urinate after having sex to prevent bacteria from traveling to the bladder.
It should be cleaned after a bowel movement, with toilet paper from front to back.
Women should also change tampons and sanitary napkins frequently when menstruating, and avoid douching and vaginal sprays.
