Dysuria ( Painful urination): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

 

Urination with pain or discomfort is referred to as dysuria.

It is one of a group of symptoms associated with irritative bladder, commonly known as lower urinary tract symptoms, which also include frequent urination and nocturia.

When you have dysuria, you have pain or a burning feeling when you urinate. Dysuria can affect men and women of any age, although it is more common in women. Dysuria is frequently related to urinary tract infections. Antibiotics, avoiding irritants, and treating an underlying medical problem are all possible treatments, depending on the underlying reason.

What is dysuria (painful urination)?

Pain or discomfort during urination is known as dysuria. It burns! Urinary frequency, which frequently occurs together with dysuria, is not the same as dysuria. There is no diagnosis for dysuria. It is a sign or symptom of a deeper health problem.

Also Read: H. pylori Infection: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

Who has dysuria?

Urination can be painful for men and women of any age. Women are more likely to experience it. Dysuria is frequently linked to urinary tract infections (UTIs). Women are more likely than men to get UTIs.

Other individuals who are at higher risk of dysuria include:

• Pregnant women 

• Diabetes in both men and women

• Any kind of bladder disease affects both men and women.

What symptoms of dysuria (painful urination) are present?

 Painful urination can have a variety of symptoms.  However, it is typically described as burning, stinging, or itching.  The most frequently reported symptom is burning.

 Both before and after urinating might cause pain.  Urinary tract infections frequently cause pain when you first urinate.  Pain following urination may indicate a bladder or prostate problem.  Men may have penile pain both before and after urinating.

 Women may have internal or external symptoms.  Inflammation or irritation of this delicate skin may be the source of pain outside of your vagina.  Urinary tract infections can cause internal pain.

Diagnosis:

If you experience discomfort or burning when peeing, consult a medical professional. Dysuria may be a sign of a condition that requires medical treatment.

To diagnose your pain, your doctor will first go over your entire medical history and ask you about any present or prior conditions, such as immunodeficiency diseases or diabetes mellitus. To ascertain whether an STI could be the source of the pain, he or she might also inquire about your sexual history. Additionally, tests to check for sexually transmitted infections may be required, particularly if women have vaginal discharge or men have penile discharge. A pregnancy test may be performed if you are a woman of childbearing age.

Additionally, your doctor will inquire about the prescription medicines you now use, the over-the-counter medications you take, and any "home remedies" you have tried to treat your dysuria.

 In addition to asking you about your present symptoms, your healthcare provider will take a clean urine sample.  Your urine sample will be examined for foreign substances, red blood cells, and white blood cells.  White blood cells indicate to your healthcare provider that you have urinary tract inflammation.  If you have a urinary tract infection, a urine culture can identify the microorganisms causing it.  Your doctor can use this information to determine which medication will be most effective in treating the bacteria.

Your doctor could recommend further testing to examine your bladder or prostate (for males) if your urine sample shows no signs of illness. To look for indications of infection (in women), your doctor might additionally obtain a swab sample from the lining of your urethra or vagina.

What is the causes of dysuria?

Dysuria has numerous causes. Remember that doctors are not always able to pinpoint the cause.


WOMEN: Women may experience painful urination due to:

• Inflammation of the bladder (cystitis).

• Vaginal infection.

•  Urinary tract infection.

• Endometritis as well as other non-urinary tract conditions, such as diverticulitis and diverticulosis.

• Urethritis is an inflammation of the bladder or urethra (the tube that starts at the lower opening of your bladder and leaves your body). An infection is typically the source of inflammation.

Sexual activity, douches, soaps, perfumed toilet paper, contraceptive sponges, and spermicides can all contribute to the inflammation.

MEN: Men may experience painful urination due to:

• Infections that are not related to the urinary tract, such as diverticulitis and diverticulosis.

• Prostate disease.

• Cancer.

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or medications can cause painful urinating in both men and women. Painful urination can result from bladder inflammation brought on by chemotherapy, cancer medications, or pelvic radiation treatment.

How do you treat dysuria?

The reason for the discomfort or burning feeling determines the course of treatment for dysuria. Determining whether the painful urination is due to an infection, inflammation, dietary issues, or a bladder or prostate issue is the first stage in your treatment.

Antibiotics are most frequently used to treat urinary tract infections. You might be prescribed phenazopyridine if your pain is severe. Note: this medication stains underwear and causes your pee to turn reddish-orange.
Treating inflammation brought on by skin irritation typically involves avoiding the irritant's source.
Treating the underlying bladder or prostate condition is the first step in treating dysuria.

Drinking more water or using an over-the-counter medication (such as Uristat® or AZO®) to relieve painful urination are two ways to lessen the discomfort. Prescription medications are required for other therapies.

Your healthcare physician can assist in determining the reason for your frequent urinary tract infections.

Other ways to ease discomfort or treat dysuria:

• Steer clear of carbonated or acidic drinks, alcohol, and caffeine, as these might irritate your bladder lining.

• Put a hot water bottle or heating pad on your lower back.

• Make sure you get some rest.

• If, after two or three days, your symptoms do not improve, get in contact with your doctor.

Is there a way to prevent dysuria?

• Increase your water consumption. Have two to three liters of water each day.

• Change your urine incontinence pad as soon as it becomes dirty if you wear one.

• After you (a woman) urinate, use some new tissue to clean the inside of your vaginal lips of any urine.

• AFAB women should maintain their genitalia dry and clean by wiping from front to back after using the bathroom.

• Tampons should be changed often.

• Steer clear of vaginal sprays, douches, and strong soaps in the genital area.

• To prevent bacteria from entering the bladder after sex, urinate.

References:

• Victoria State Government Department of Health: "Cystitis."

• Wrenn K. Dysuria, Frequency, and Urgency. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, eds. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd ed. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 181. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK291/). Accessed 8/20/2020.

• The Merck Manual: "Dysuria."

• Roberts, R. and Hartlaub, P. American Family Physician, Sept. 1, 1999; vol 60: pp 865-872.

• Wrenn K. Dysuria, Frequency, and Urgency. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, eds. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd ed. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 181. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK291/). Accessed 8/20/2020.

• StatPearls: "Phenazopyridine."

• Urology Care Foundation: "What Are Kidney Stones?"

• Kurowski K. The women with dysuria. Am Fam Physician. 1998 May 1;57(9):2155-64, 2169-70.