See your healthcare provider if you feel pain or burning when you pee. Dysuria can be a symptom of medical condition that may need to be treated.
Burning with urination, also called “dysuria,” is a frequent symptom that can have multiple underlying causes and can affect both men and women. The most common cause is an infection, but it is always best to speak to a healthcare provider to help determine the best course of treatment.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat painful urination. Antibiotics can treat UTIs, some bacterial infections, and some STIs. Your doctor may also give you medication to calm your irritated bladder.
There are a bunch of different things that could cause pain when you pee. It can be caused by an STD, a urinary tract infection, a yeast infection or another kind of vaginitis (if you have a vulva/vagina), or an allergy to some kind of product like spermicide or lubricant.
But in some cases, something other than an STD will cause a burning sensation at the tip of the urethra. The most common causes that are not STDs include urinary tract infections (UTI) and non-STD-related inflammation of the urethra, called urethritis. Treatment usually involves a round of antibiotics.
Bladder inflammation: Because dehydration concentrates the urine, resulting in a high level of minerals, it can irritate the lining of the bladder and cause painful bladder syndrome, or interstitial cystitis. Frequent, urgent urination and pelvic pain are common symptoms.
Besides infections, other reasons that area may be irritated or inflamed include: Stones in the urinary tract. Irritation of the urethra from sexual activity. Interstitial cystitis, a condition caused by bladder inflammation.
“Yes, a UTI could go away on its own, but some infections are different than others,” he says. “And if left untreated, it may linger longer.” UTIs are classified into two main categories: uncomplicated, also known as cystitis; and complicated, which may be catheter-associated or happen during pregnancy.
Lower UTIs are common and aren't usually a cause for major concern. Upper UTIs can be serious if left untreated, as they could damage the kidneys or spread to the bloodstream.
Sometimes your body's immune system can clear out the invading bacteria without any help from medications, said Courtenay Moore, MD, a urologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. "If untreated, a UTI would typically take about three to seven days to fight off on your own," Dr. Moore told Health.
Most UTIs can be cured. Bladder infection symptoms most often go away within 24 to 48 hours after treatment begins. If you have a kidney infection, it may take 1 week or longer for symptoms to go away.
Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones.
When left untreated, the infection from a UTI can actually move throughout the body—becoming very serious and even life threatening. If you do not treat a bladder infection, it may turn into a kidney infection, which can then result in a more serious infection that's moved into the blood stream.
UTIs can be found by analyzing a urine sample. The urine is examined under a microscope for bacteria or white blood cells, which are signs of infection. Your health care provider may also take a urine culture. This test examines urine to detect and identify bacteria and yeast, which may be causing a UTI.
UTIs usually require antibiotics to be treated, meaning you'll need to visit a healthcare provider. Telehealth services can make it easier to schedule an appointment. Getting started on your antibiotic right away and drinking plenty of water are some of the most important steps in helping to get rid of a UTI fast.
Of course, make sure your bladder is completely empty before going to bed. You might also consider setting alarms during the night so that you can wake up and use the bathroom. Tools like a hot water bottle, heating pad, or even over-the-counter pain relievers can all help you with nighttime discomfort, too.
Symptoms of UTIs
Pain or burning while peeing. Frequent or intense need to urinate although little comes out when you do. Foul-smelling, cloudy, or bloody urine. Pain or pressure in your lower abdomen, just above where your bladder is located.
During the infection — and after — make sure to drink a lot of water, at least 12 8-ounce cups per day. This will flush out your system and help prevent future infections. If you feel like you've got to go, GO! Don't hold it, as this simply delays getting rid of more bacteria.
Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs. The female anatomy contributes to women's increased likelihood of contracting a UTI.
The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning; urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad; back or side pain; nausea/vomiting; and fever. Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs.
Additionally, a number of common foods and drinks — artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, acidic fruits, citrus, or caffeinated drinks — can irritate your bladder, and may worsen UTI symptoms — so you should steer clear of them if you have signs of a bladder infection.
Water is by far the best beverage choice for someone with a UTI. Drinking at least 12 8-ounce cups of water each day while you have an infection will help flush the bacteria from your system and can speed up the healing process.