Burning on urination: causes and treatments

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Extract from the article: Burning on urination is a common symptom affecting millions of people. It's a burning, itching sensation that occurs before, during or just after urination. Most cases occur when urine comes into contact with the mucous membrane of the urethral walls

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Burning on urination is a common symptom affecting millions of people. It's a burning, itching sensation that occurs before, during or just after urination. Most cases occur when urine comes into contact with the mucous membrane of the urethral walls. Burning on urination may or may not be due to infection.

The urinary system consists of the kidneys, which produce urine. This is carried by the ureters to the bladder, where it is temporarily stored until it is time to urinate. When it is time to urinate, the urine leaves the bladder through a tube called the urethra. Here are some triggers and treatment options.

Cystitis

According to « Harvard Health Publishing », bladder infections, or cystitis, are the main cause of burning urine. Cystitis is more common in women than in men. This is because the urethra is shorter and straighter, making it easier for germs to travel to the bladder. Most bladder infections are benign, so are not associated with complications, last only a few days and are easy to treat.  Persistent or difficult-to-treat infections are associated with an immunocompromised system, renal failure, pregnancy, anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract or poor functioning of the pelvic muscles.

Urethritis

People affected by urethritis do not usually experience fever, low back pain or bleeding in the urine.However, if the infection spreads, symptoms can be complicated.Urethral infections are another cause of painful urination.Most of these infectious processes that trigger inflammation of the urethra are caused by viruses and bacteria. Having kidney stones, an inflamed prostate, diabetes, pregnancy and being elderly all increase the risk of developing urethritis.Those who develop this condition often experience increased frequency of urination, fever and changes in the appearance of the urine (odour, texture and colour).

Sexually transmitted infections

STIs can cause burning when urinating. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, syphilis and others can cause it. Increasing the frequency of sexual intercourse, particularly with different partners, increases the risk of contracting STIs and other causes of burning urine.

Taking medicines

All medicines can cause side effects.Ingestion of some of them can irritate the tissues lining the bladder or urethra.Therefore, it is possible that the cause of burning when urinating is related to the medication you are taking.If this is thought to be the case, report this side effect to the healthcare professional who prescribed the medicine.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones can also be the cause of these episodes. These are accumulations of calcium or uric acid that harden in or around the kidneys to form small crystals and can move into the lower urinary tract, causing painful urination. They may be accompanied by the following symptoms: pain in the lower back, changes in the colour of the urine, fever and chills, low-volume urination, nausea and vomiting.

Other possible causes

These include: prostate infections, pyelonephritis, vaginitis, retention of foreign bodies in the urethra, ovarian cysts, trauma, tumours, menopause, bladder cancer.

Treatment

Treatment varies according to the cause.Since infectious processes are the most common and are generally mild, pain during urination should disappear within a few days with the right treatment for the infection, sometimes even without treatment.When symptoms are severe, consult a doctor to find out what is triggering the burning.  Feeling a burning sensation when urinating is not always linked to a bladder or urethra infection, so be careful not to play it down.

Healthy lifestyle

It is advisable to implement a series of lifestyle changes to reduce the risks: avoid using perfumed soaps or strong chemicals that can irritate the genitals; use barrier contraceptives during sex; avoid douching; drink plenty of fluids throughout the day; clean the genitals after sex.It is also advisable to urinate immediately after intercourse.Reduce your consumption of alcohol and coffee, both of which are often irritants; avoid wearing very tight clothing and change your underwear to reduce interaction with bacteria. If you experience burning when urinating several times a year, don't hesitate to consult a specialist.

Natural recipes

Recipe 1: Take 07 lemongrass leaves, 07 mint leaves, 10 kinkeliba leaves and 2 ginger roots. Boil the mixture in 1 litre of water for 15 minutes.  Drink 1 cup morning and evening with 1 teaspoon of honey.

Recipe 2: 03 large onions (the size of oranges), 01 bunch of parsley (with roots if possible), 01 litre of drinking water. Cut each onion into 04 parts, add the litre of water and bring to the boil for ten minutes. Just after the ten minutes, pour all the parsley that has already been washed and chopped into the water over the onions.Stir well and leave on the heat for a further five minutes before removing from the heat. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes before straining. Dosage: 01 bamboo glass or 1/4 litre of the herbal tea + juice of 01 lime, mix and drink at midday and in the evening shortly before meals, then drink the 3rd glass shortly before going to bed.Repeat the same procedure every day for at least 06-08 weeks and judge.This is just a preventive measure, so 02 glasses a day for every 48 hours for 01 month is enough.You will have to repeat from time to time.

William O.

Article validated by Dr Jean-Claude Bakpatina, General Practitioner at the Floreal Clinic in Lomé.