Dysuria (Painful Urination): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention

Overview

Dysuria is a condition that causes painful urination. You can feel discomfort, pain, and burning while urinating. Dysuria can occur in men and women. However, women are more likely to experience it. Infections are the dominant cause of painful urination. 

What Causes Dysuria?

In most cases, painful urination is a result of infections. UTI is the most common complication that causes painful urination. In men, prostate conditions and urethritis lead to frequent painful urination.

Doctors categorize the causes of Dysuria into two types:

Sexual Causes:

This is when a person contracts STIs – Sexually Transmitted Infections. Dysuria may occur in men and women due to sexually transmitted infections. Some STIs are gonorrhea.

If you are sexually active and experience pain or burning during urination, you must visit a doctor. Screening at the early stage is advisable for STIs.

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Non-sexual Causes

Some of the usual non-sexual causes of painful urination (dysuria) are:

Urinary Tract Infections

Painful urination may occur due to urinary tract infections. The bladder, urethra, ureters, and kidneys make up the urinary tract. When you have a bacterial infection in any of these organs, it leads to painful urination.

UTIs are more common in women as the female urethra is shorter . It means that bacteria need to travel less to reach the bladder.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are when materials within the body, like uric acid and calcium, build up forming stones in the kidney . When these kidney stones travel to the bladder area, it results in painful urination.

Chemical Sensitivity 

Not every cause of dysuria lies within your body. Sometimes, certain external factors can also lead to pain and irritate the bladder tissues.

Douches, scented toilet paper, soaps, vaginal lubricants, and contraceptive foams are some chemicals that cause irritation and pain while urinating.

Urethral Stricture

In men, urethral stricture is a health condition that narrows the tube through which urine comes out. This condition restricts the urine from flowing freely. It further leads to complications like painful urination.

Urethritis

The condition results in pain while urinating and can also increase the urge to urinate.

Prostatitis

People who have prostate inflammation  can experience dysuria, i.e., painful urination due to prostatitis. Prostatitis is inflammation in the prostate gland. It is one of the prime causes of pain, burns, and discomfort during urination.

When to See a Doctor

Experiencing a burning sensation while urinating can be a symptom of an underlying issue. If you feel a slight burning or pain while urinating, it may go away on its own. However, if you feel long-lasting pain and discomfort, consult a doctor.

The following are some conditions that require you to visit a doctor:

• Persistent pain
• Painful urination during pregnancy
• Pain with fever
• Uncommon discharge from reproductive organs, i.e., vagina or penis
• Uncommon odor in urine
• Blood in urine or change in color
• Dysuria along with stomach pain
• Kidney stone or bladder stone

For the conditions listed above, only doctors can suggest the right treatment.

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How to Prevent Painful Urination?

• Monitor your diet and eliminate foods that may irritate your bladder.
• Drink a lot of water.
• Use condoms for oral as well as penetrating sex.
• Wear washed, clean clothes.

How to Treat Dysuria?

Since you feel discomfort in one of the most sensitive parts of your body, it is advisable to undergo certain tests first. The treatment options for dysuria vary depending on the underlying causes.

The following are some treatment options that your doctor may suggest:

• Do not use harsh soaps or chemical products around your genitals. It may eventually lead to irritation and inflammation.
• Antibiotics are helpful in the case of UTIs. When UTIs affect the kidneys, you may require intravenous antibiotics. 
• Drink cranberry juice, or increase your water intake. It is better to consult your doctor, find out the cause, and take the treatment accordingly

Conclusion

Painful urination or dysuria can occur in men and women of any age. There are many causes, and most of them are related to bacterial infections.

Consuming a healthy diet and maintaining a hygienic lifestyle is  advisable. If you experience pain and discomfort while urinating, see a doctor before the situation gets worse.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do intimate hygiene products cause Dysuria?

Intimate hygiene products do not necessarily cause painful urination. However, it is possible in some cases. If the product does not suit you, or your skin does not accept it, you may experience difficulty urinating. This falls under the chemical sensitivity causes.

How can I stop the burning sensation after during urination?

If you frequently experience a burning sensation during after urination, it is advisable to visit a doctor:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Urinate more often to empty your bladder.

Is it possible to get dysuria if I had oral sex?

Yes. You can get dysuria after oral sex. Oral sex transmits STIs, which is one of the prime causes of painful urination or dysuria

How do I know whether I have bacterial or non-bacterial prostatitis?

It can be hard to define on your own whether you have bacterial or non-bacterial prostatitis. Visiting a doctor is recommended. However, here are some tips that may help you identify the type of prostatitis:

• Non-bacterial prostatitis mainly causes difficulty while urinating. You may also feel a frequent urge to urinate.
• Bacterial prostatitis causes pain and a burning sensation during urination.