Burning Sensation After Urinating However No An infection: Causes and Suggestions

“UTIs are the commonest trigger and normally the very first thing we wish to rule out,” says Karl J. Kreder, MD, MBA, a professor of urology on the College of Iowa. A UTI (urinary tract an infection) is a bacterial an infection that may trigger dysuria—i.e., a burning or itching sensation when urinating. UTIs can typically be detected with at-home take a look at kits and a urine tradition at your physician’s workplace.

However if you happen to’ve dominated out an an infection, it is not a lifeless finish. There are a number of different well being situations that could possibly be the perpetrator. Learn on to be taught the commonest causes of post-pee burning, signs to look out for, and when to see a doc about your discomfort.

Associated Tales

9 causes of a burning sensation after urinating

The explanations for burning submit urination vary from gentle to extra extreme. Listed below are the highest causes.

1. You will have interstitial cystitis (aka, painful bladder syndrome)

Interstitial cystitis (IC)—generally known as painful bladder syndrome—may cause painful urination with out an infection. This ache can really feel like burning, stabbing, or an aching, heavy feeling in your pelvic ground. Different signs embrace the next, per the Mayo Clinic:

• Continual pelvic ache
• A persistent, pressing must urinate
• Frequent urination (typically in small quantities) all through the day and evening
• Ache or discomfort when your bladder fills

IC can worsen once you’re in your interval or after intercourse, however the precise reason for the situation is essentially unknown. Medical doctors suspect, although, that it is linked to irritation, autoimmune reactions, or genetics, per the Mayo Clinic.

“Interstitial cystitis may be accompanied by wider unfold ache all through the physique,” provides Dr. Kreder. He says it’s a prognosis of exclusion, that means a health care provider will take a look at for different causes and if all the things is unfavorable, you might get an IC prognosis.

How one can deal with it

The primary line of therapy for IC is life-style adjustments like consuming extra water, eliminating meals or drinks (like espresso) that set off flare-ups, and lowering stress. Your physician may additionally refer you to a pelvic ground therapist to assist strengthen your pelvic ground muscle tissue. In extreme instances, your physician can prescribe an oral overactive bladder (OAB) medicine to alleviate urinary discomfort, per the Nationwide Library of Medication (NLM).

2. It is a being pregnant aspect impact

For those who get urinary tract irritation once you’re pregnant or postpartum, it is most probably resulting from a UTI, in accordance with Stanford Well being. However that’s not the one potential motive. It is also resulting from pores and skin irritation or irritation within the urethra—from hormone adjustments throughout being pregnant, says Apurva Pancholy, MD, a urogynecologist with UTHealth Houston.

How one can deal with it

For those who’re pregnant (or lately had a child) and really feel even slight burning after urination, attain out to your physician, says Dr. Pancholy. They can assist you determine the trigger, and determine on the right therapy plan.

3. You will have bladder or kidney stones

A post-void burning sensation that is sharp or intense may be from bladder or kidney stones. Bladder stones are exhausting clumps of minerals discovered within the bladder, typically brought on by a small quantity of urine remaining within the bladder after peeing, per the Cleveland Clinic. Kidney stones, then again, are exhausting clumps discovered all through your urinary tract, which generally type from too many minerals and too little liquid in your pee, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Usually, a burning sensation occurs proper earlier than you cross a kidney or bladder stone, says Dr. Kreder. Different signs he mentions embrace the next:

• Ache in your decrease stomach, again, or flank (sides)
• Vaginal or testicle ache
• Blood in urine
• Nausea
• Chills
• Fever

How one can deal with it

Whereas it may be extraordinarily painful, most bladder or kidney stones cross by the urinary tract on their very own—with out medical intervention. For those who suppose you are passing a stone, drink loads of water and attain out to your physician to run blood or urine exams. These exams might assist forestall future stones and medical doctors may additionally present medicine or help to assist your present stone cross extra simply.

4. You are in menopause

Menopause is commonly a time the place noninfectious urinary signs are inclined to pop up. Throughout this life transition, your estrogen ranges drop. This lower may cause irritation or irritation of the urethra, says Dr. Pancholy. Researchers have named this situation genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), per April 2020 analysis in Cureus. Whereas signs can range, many individuals really feel a burning sensation throughout or after peeing and vaginal dryness.

How one can deal with it

“Numerous occasions, this may be handled with topical estrogen,” says Dr. Kreder. Different choices embrace nonhormonal lubricants, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), or different hormone therapies. For those who’re transitioning to menopause (otherwise you’re already in it), do not be afraid to let your physician find out about your menopause signs, so you may get correct therapy.

5. You will have urethral stricture illness

For those who’re an individual with a penis, urethral burning after peeing could possibly be from one thing referred to as urethral stricture illness. This situation causes your urethra to slender, which might gradual the stream of pee out of your bladder and result in ache or burning once you pee. Different signs can embrace the next, per Mount Sinai:

• Feeling like it’s a must to urinate proper after a visit to the lavatory
• Frequent or pressing must urinate
• Pelvic or urethral ache
• Bleeding
• Over time, recurrent UTIs or kidney harm

How one can deal with it

Apart from intently monitoring your signs and relieving ache with medicine, there are a number of totally different procedures that may be finished to assist with urethral stricture. This contains urethral dilatation (a process the place the urethra is widened or stretched) or inner urethrotomy (the place it’s widened by slicing out scar tissue). If each do not provide aid, you might want a surgical procedure to reconstruct your urethra.

6. It is nonbacterial urethritis

One other situation that may occur if in case you have a penis, nonbacterial urethritis is ache and swelling of the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis. Whereas this situation would not occur from micro organism (therefore the identify), it may possibly end result from an STI like chlamydia or gonorrhea, per the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

This generally causes burning once you pee, however extra particularly may cause burning pee after ejaculation, a sore tip of the penis, pelvic ache, or white, cloudy discharge from the penis, per the NHS.

How one can deal with it

Treating nonbacterial urethritis will rely upon the trigger. If it is from an STI, you may seemingly must abstain from intercourse and take antibiotics to deal with any lingering an infection, per the NHS. If it is from different causes, your physician might prescribe anti-inflammatory meds to assist take down any swelling or discomfort.

7. You will have pelvic inflammatory illness

If this uncomfortable feeling after peeing is accompanied by different signs like fever or uncommon vaginal discharge, pelvic inflammatory illness (PID) could also be in charge. This an infection is commonly the results of an untreated STI—normally chlamydia or gonorrhea, per the CDC. Different frequent signs to look out for embrace the next, per the CDC:

• Ache or bleeding throughout intercourse
• A nasty odor out of your vagina
• Bleeding between durations

Treating PID as quickly as potential is vital as a result of, even after therapy, PID might result in fertility points. The truth is, in accordance with the CDC, 1 in 8 ladies with a historical past of PID have problem getting pregnant.

How one can deal with it

Treating PID typically comes right down to treating the underlying STI or an infection. To determine which STI you are coping with, your physician can carry out an STI take a look at and prescribe the right antibiotic, per the CDC.

8. It is from an STI

“Any an infection of the urinary tract may cause a burning sensation when urinating, and that features STIs,” says Dr. Kreder. The STIs most probably to trigger urinary discomfort after peeing are chlamydia or gonorrhea, however there are others that may trigger comparable signs. Different indicators of STIs typically embrace the next, per the Mayo Clinic:

• Pelvic ache
• Sores in your genital, oral, or rectal space
• Uncommon discharge out of your vagina or penis
• Uncommon vaginal bleeding
• Ache throughout intercourse
• Fever
• Widespread rash

In an effort to work out which STI you are coping with, your physician can run an STI screening or a sequence of blood or urine exams, per the Mayo Clinic.

How one can deal with it

After getting examined, your physician can work out the appropriate therapy plan for you. This may typically embrace taking antibiotics to deal with your an infection and abstaining from intercourse to cease the unfold of illness.

9. In uncommon instances, it may be bladder most cancers

Bladder most cancers just isn’t as frequent, however its early warning indicators typically embrace noninfectious urinary tract signs. You might discover blood in your urine, have the urge to urinate extra typically, get again ache, or get a burning sensation after you pee, per the Mayo Clinic. In late levels, it may possibly additionally trigger ache in your pelvis or different bones or joints.

How one can deal with it

Bladder most cancers is identified by a sequence of exams like a cystoscopy (the place a small digital camera is inserted into your bladder to view the tissue), a biopsy, and urine samples, per the Mayo Clinic. Therapy usually entails rounds of radiation or chemotherapy and generally surgical procedure to take away the bladder.

How one can cease a burning sensation after urinating

“Consider it or not, adjustments in food regimen are sometimes the primary line of therapy,” particularly if in case you have IC, says Dr. Pancholy. He says frequent meals that may set off urinary discomfort embrace:

• Spicy meals
• Acidic meals (like tomatoes or citrus)
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Synthetic sweeteners

Together with food regimen changes, Dr. Pancholy says it is vital to drink loads of water all through the day, keep away from holding in pee for too lengthy, and loosen up your pelvic muscle tissue when peeing. Maintaining along with your private hygiene (that’s, washing “down there” repeatedly) and stopping an infection can also be vital.

And since your signs could possibly be associated to a a lot greater well being concern, Dr. Pancholy recommends reaching out to your physician. They’ll prescribe any essential medicines or refer you to a specialist—like a urologist, gynecologist, or perhaps a pelvic ground therapist.

Dr. Kreder says if you are going to strive the pelvic ground remedy route, it is vital not to strive pelvic ground workout routines by yourself simply but (i.e., and not using a therapist’s steerage). Not all of the workout routines you discover on-line will get rid of that burning sensation earlier than, throughout, or after peeing; knowledgeable’s assistance is advisable.

When to see a health care provider

“If burning with urination is a transient factor that occurred as soon as final week, I do not need anyone to get scared about it,” says Dr. Pancholy. However “if it is one thing that is taking place incessantly, then it’s time to get evaluated as a result of there are remedies out there,” he provides. A primary-care physician, gynecologist, or urologist ought to be capable of work out the underlying trigger and refer you to the right specialist.

It’s best to particularly attain out to your physician in case your burning sensation is accompanied by different crimson flags like blood in your urine, fever, or extreme ache, he provides.

The underside line? A frequent burning sensation “down there” would not all the time imply UTI, however your physician can assist you determine the trigger. “There’s not one medicine that treats each case,” says Dr. Kreder. “A health care provider will create a prognosis based mostly on a affected person’s historical past, bodily examination, a urine tradition, and generally different exams.”

FAQ

How lengthy does it take for burning pee to go away?

The precise size relies on the trigger. In some instances, burning pee can go away by itself in a number of days, particularly if you happen to’re consuming water, peeing repeatedly, and maintaining along with your private hygiene. Different occasions, it might last more and require medical consideration. In case your burning is constant or worsening (whether or not it is after you pee or not), it is best to let your physician know.

What medicine stops burning pee?

There are a number of totally different over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicine choices that may relieve a burning sensation once you pee. For instance, AZO (an OTC analgesic), can assist relieve urinary ache and burning. NSAIDs (like Ibuprofen or acetaminophen) can even assist briefly relieve ache. But when the burning is from an an infection, a prescription antibiotic is the one efficient therapy. (FYI, you possibly can nonetheless use at-home UTI treatments like making use of warmth alongside meds, too!)

What meals are for optimum bladder well being?

Slightly-known bladder truth is that sure meals can truly assist (or irritate) it. The greatest meals for bladder well being embrace fruits and veggies with a excessive water content material, comparable to peaches, papaya, cauliflower, and kale. Excessive-fiber meals, together with complete grains, legumes, and potatoes, are additionally good choices.