Pain when urinating in men
Pain during urination in men is an extremely unpleasant symptom. There are many reasons for its occurrence, and an experienced urologist, who should be contacted without delay, will help to understand them.

Painful urination (dysuria) is an extremely broad term that refers to discomfort at the time of coping with natural needs. This pain may occur in the bladder, urethra, or perineum. In general, painful urination is very common. Pain, burning, or tingling can indicate a number of medical conditions.

Causes of pain when urinating in men

– In men, pain during urination occurs with inflammation of the urethra (urethritis) and prostate gland (prostatitis), as well as with urolithiasis, when stones are discharged, – says urologist Rodion Vasilevsky. – A rarer cause of pain in the urethra is cancer of the prostate and urethra.

In addition, painful urination can be caused by certain medications that irritate the bladder.

In more detail, the main causes of pain during urination in men are as follows.

  • Infection of the urethra. Painful urination is a common symptom of a urinary tract infection, which includes the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. Inflammation of any of these organs can cause pain. Women are more likely to develop these infections than men because the female urethra is shorter. But older men also suffer from such infections.
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some STIs can also cause painful urination, such as genital herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
  • Prostatitis. Even young men can experience painful urination due to prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate gland. Often it is he who becomes the main cause of burning, tingling and discomfort during the separation of urine.
  • Cystitis. This is an inflammation of the lining of the bladder. The most common variant in men is interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome. Its main symptoms are pain in the bladder and pelvis.

In some cases, pain in the bladder and when urinating can be caused by radiation therapy. This condition is known as radiation cystitis.

  • Urethritis. Urethritis indicates inflammation of the urethra, usually due to a bacterial infection. It also often causes pain when urinating, and can also cause increased urge to urinate.
  • Epididymitis. This is an inflammation of the epididymis. This disease can also cause pain when urinating.
  • obstructive uropathy. In other words, urinary tract obstruction, in which urine from the ureter, bladder, or urethra returns to the kidneys. The causes of this pathology are different, but it always requires seeking medical help.
  • Another condition, urethral stricture, can cause narrowing of the urinary canal, creating similar urinary problems and pain.
  • Stones in the kidneys. If a man has kidney stones, they obstruct the flow of urine, causing pain.
  • Medicines. Some medications, such as those used to treat cancer and some antibiotics, can cause painful urination as a side effect. You need to talk to your doctor and possibly change your medication.
  • Hygiene products. Sometimes painful urination can be caused by care products. Soaps, lotions, and bubble baths can be especially irritating to the tissues in the urethra. Dyes in laundry detergents and other toiletries can also cause irritation and painful urination.

Symptoms of urinary pain in men

Men with pain when urinating may have other symptoms:

  • more or less frequent urination than usual;
  • itching, swelling, or soreness in the genital area;
  • pain during sex;
  • fever;
  • blood in urine or semen.

Doctors evaluate the severity of pain on a 10-point scale:

  • easy – pain does not interfere with work, study or other normal activities, its score is 1 – 3;
  • moderate – pain interferes with work, awakens from sleep, its score is 4 – 7 points;
  • Heavy – the pain is very strong, it interferes with normal activities, its assessment is 8-10 points.

Call a doctor immediately if:

  • there is a strong weakness, so much so that it is difficult to stand;
  • pain 8 – 10 points;
  • there was vomiting or trembling;
  • temperature above 38 °C;
  • pain is localized in the side, back or scrotum;
  • you are diagnosed with diabetes, a weak immune system (HIV, cancer chemotherapy, long-term steroid use, spleen has been removed);
  • bedridden male (nursing home patient, stroke, chronic disease, or convalescent from surgery);
  • the patient underwent a transplant (liver, heart, lung, kidney).

Contact your doctor no later than XNUMX hours if there is blood in the urine (red, pink or tea-colored), pus, pain or burning when urinating.

Treatment of urinary pain in men

Determining the cause of the pain will be the first step in treatment.

Painful urination due to a bacterial infection usually resolves fairly quickly once medication is started. Always take your medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Pain associated with some infections, such as interstitial cystitis, is more difficult to treat and results may be delayed. You may need to take medication for 4 months before you feel better.

Diagnostics

At the doctor’s appointment, it is important to describe as accurately as possible the nature of the pain during urination, as well as the accompanying symptoms – this will help to make an accurate diagnosis.

Urinalysis (general and culture) will help determine which infection is causing the pain.

If the doctor thinks the pain may be caused by an STI, they may take a urethral swab. The mucus is examined under a microscope to see if it contains yeast or other organisms.

If the pain is caused by an infection in the urethra, the doctor may do a swab to test for bacteria. Your doctor may examine your prostate if there is a possibility that the pain may be caused by an enlarged or infected prostate.

If no infection is found, the urologist may suggest other tests, such as measuring pressure in the bladder (cystoscopy).

Modern treatments

Antibiotics will be prescribed for urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases. The urologist may also prescribe medication to soothe an irritated bladder. But all drugs should be prescribed only by a doctor!

If the pain is not severe and there are no suspicions of any diseases, a simple way to ease urination at home will help – drink more water. 8 – 10 glasses a day. It will dilute the urine and make it less painful to pass.

Prevention of pain during urination in men at home

If the pain is the result of irritation of additives and dyes in your skin care products, change your makeup. And washing powder, if that’s the reason.

Use condoms during intercourse to protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Change your diet – eliminate foods and drinks that can irritate the bladder, such as caffeine and alcohol.

Popular questions and answers

Answered typical men’s questions about pain when urinating urologist Rodion Vasilevsky.

How dangerous is pain when urinating?

This is not dangerous if we are dealing with a banal discharge of urinary salts. But specific (for example, gonorrheal) urethritis without treatment can lead to urethral stricture, that is, its narrowing. Therefore, pain during urination in men cannot be left without attention.

When to see a doctor for pain during urination?

Contact in any case if the symptom does not “go away” within 3-4 days. In addition to pain, other manifestations are also important: the frequency of urination and the amount of urine excreted, the presence of discharge from the urethra (pus, mucus, blood). In the latter case, you should immediately contact a urologist!

Is it possible to treat pain during urination in men with folk remedies?

In the case of painful urination in men, I would not recommend self-medication, especially with the use of folk remedies. It is not forbidden, of course, to use any herbal preparations, but only as an addition to the basic therapy prescribed by the doctor.

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