Burning while urinating is most often a sign of urinary infection, which is much more frequent in women, but can also happen in men, causing symptoms such as feeling of heaviness in the bladder, frequent urination to urinate and general malaise .
However, the onset of burning may also indicate the presence of other urinary or gynecological problems, such as yeast infection, sexually transmitted diseases, or allergy to some product. Thus, it is important to consult a gynecologist when the burning persists for more than 2 or 3 days, to identify the cause and start the appropriate treatment.
Burning while urinating may also be known as dysuria, which is the medical term used to describe discomfort when urinating. However, this term can also be used in cases of pain when urinating, which is not always associated with the burning sensation. See the main causes of pain when urinating.
1. Urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infection is the most frequent and also the most popular cause of arthritic sensation when urinating. This type of infection occurs especially in women because of the proximity of the urethra to the anus, but it can also occur in men, especially when there is poor intimate hygiene or unprotected anal sex.
The classic symptoms of a urinary tract infection include, in addition to burning, a full bladder sensation, low fever, strong-smelling urine, general malaise, and difficulty in holding the pee. Check out all the symptoms of urinary tract infection.
- How to treat : It is necessary to take antibiotics, such as Fosfomycin or Ciprofloxacin, prescribed by the gynecologist or urologist, for 2 to 7 days, depending on the severity. In addition, people who have recurrent infections can do supplementation with cranberry capsules, for example. Learn more about these capsules.
2. Candidiasis
Candidiasis occurs when there is excessive growth of fungi in the intima and usually accompanied by a burning sensation when urinating. This excess of fungi is more frequent in women due to the constant humidity in the region, but can also happen by weakening the immune system, after cooling or after using antibiotics, for example.
Some symptoms that help to identify candidiasis include intense itching in the intima, redness, whitish discharge and discomfort during intimate contact, for example. See if you may have candidiasis.
- How to treat : Treatment is usually rapid and is done with the use of antifungal ointments such as Clotrimazole or Econazole. However, proper hygiene should also be maintained by keeping the area always dry and using cotton clothing to allow the skin to breathe.
3. Sexually transmitted diseases
Although they are less frequent, sexually transmitted diseases are also a major cause of ardent urination, especially in the case of chlamydia and trichomoniasis. It is possible to get these diseases through sex without a condom, so it is recommended to always use a condom, especially when there are several partners.
The symptoms that usually accompany these diseases are yellowish discharge with foul smell, bleeding, pain when urinating and itching. The only way to know the specific cause is by consulting a gynecologist or urologist and doing a laboratory examination of the discharge.
- How to treat : Treatment is almost always done with oral antibiotics like Metronidazole or Azithromycin, depending on the STD. These diseases should be treated as soon as possible to avoid the onset of complications such as infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease.
4. Small wounds in the genital organ
The appearance of small wounds in the genital region can cause tissue irritation, which is aggravated when urinating, causing burning, pain or even blood to appear. This type of wounds is more common in women because of the friction that occurs during intimate contact, but it can also occur in men.
- How to treat : Normally the burning improves after 2 or 3 days, while the tissues heal and, during this period, it is advised to drink lots of water to keep the urine less concentrated, as well as avoid having sex.
5. Use of intimate hygiene products
There are several products that can be used in the intimate region, especially in the case of women, from creams, to deodorants and soaps, for example. However, some of these products can cause allergy or even unbalance the pH, leading to the appearance of burning when urinating.
In these cases, the burning may still be accompanied by constant itching and redness in the intima, especially after using the product, improving during bathing.
- How to treat : If the symptom arises after starting to use a new intimate hygiene product, the region should be washed with warm water and a neutral pH soap and evaluated if the symptom improves. If this happens, you should avoid using this product again.
What tests to do to know the cause
The main test used to identify a problem when urinating is the urine test, in which the doctor evaluates the presence of blood, leukocytes or proteins that may indicate an infection.
However, when another cause is suspected, other tests such as a uroculture, ultrasound, or a laboratory test of discharge may still be ordered.
