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Discomfort, pain and burning in the lower abdomen are symptoms characteristic primarily of urinary tract infections. Burning when urinating is often the result of a bacterial infection. In addition, it is usually accompanied by pollakiuria. What other conditions can go hand in hand with these symptoms? How to recognize urethritis?
Urethritis in men — a painful and troublesome ailment
Most patients who complain of such ailments suffer from urinary tract infections, including cystitis. Although this problem is much more common in women, it also happens in men and can signal prostate diseases. Sexually transmitted infections can also occur in both sexes. The main symptoms of this type of urinary tract problem include:
- frequent urination in small amounts,
- pain in the lower abdomen,
- sometimes painful urge to urinate,
- stinging in the urethra,
- fever.
The most common cause is bacterial infections
In most cases, the symptoms are caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI). This means that there are pathogens in the urinary tract, mainly bacteria. Most often, in as many as 90% of patients, it is the Escherichia coli bacteria, found mainly in the large intestine. The remaining 10% of diseases in this area are caused by other strains of bacteria, fungi and viruses. It is these microbes that are responsible for burning and pain during urination. In the human body, whose immune system is functioning properly, no infection should occur. The situation can be even more complicated when the bacteria “go” further, towards the kidneys. Then pyelonephritis occurs.
What else can signal discomfort during urination?
Burning or itching of the urethra during urination can signal an STD – the risk of catching an infection is higher when a person has frequent sexual intercourse. This type of cause is called “honeymoon syndrome.” However, this problem mainly affects women, due to their anatomical conditions. The use of contraceptive methods such as vaginal rings or the cervical cap are common causes of infection. This type of UTI tends to recur and occur several times a year. Another cause of discomfort when urinating may be improper intimate hygiene – due to the proximity of the anus and vagina in women, they are much more predisposed to catching this type of infection. Some poor hygiene habits, such as wiping from back to front, or frequent and inattentive use of public restrooms, can cause a UTI. In addition, diabetic patients often suffer from various types of infection, as elevated blood sugar levels favor infection. Sometimes there is also excessive sweating – people with a problem with intense sweating usually struggle with urinating in a smaller amount, which is conducive to the colonization of the urinary tract by bacteria.
Urethritis in men – symptoms and treatment
This type of inflammation most often occurs with gonococcal infection, which affects both the urinary system and the testicles, adrenal glands, rectum and even the throat. Most often, men feel pain in the urethra, itching, pinching when urinating. As many as 90% of cases of urethritis are asymptomatic, then the unaware partner, on the one hand, does not take treatment, on the other hand, he transfers the infection to his partner. This, of course, results in the need for treatment by both of them after diagnosis and taking antibiotics or chemotherapeutic drugs.