What Could Be Causing Pain During Urination?
Although it is never very easy to talk about it, many women find that, from time to time, they suffer a burning sensation when they urinate. While this may not be so unusual, it is still troubling, and if you have found yourself in this position you will want to know what is wrong. What could be causing these painful and uncomfortable symptoms, and are they signs of something serious?
Cause of the Pain
A burning sensation can be caused by a number of different problems. For example, you may have a bladder infection, or you may have inflammation of the skin around the vagina. In this case the urine, which is very acidic, is coming into contact with irritated skin and that is causing the burning sensation.
UTIs
In the case of a urinary tract infection, this will probably lead to additional symptoms such as abdominal pain. You may also find that you need to go to the toilet very often and this is due to a buildup of bacteria within the bladder itself. This kind of infection may be treated by an antibiotic, but this may require some tests first in order to determine the exact cause of the problem.
Herpes
If you've suffered from a herpes outbreak before, then you may be experiencing a flareup and this may cause some inflammation within that sensitive skin. Sores may develop in this area and, once again, they will be sensitive to the acid in the urine. Other sexually transmitted infections can also trigger the same result.
Unusual Discharge
It is possible that your problems are caused by a yeast infection, and this may be accompanied by an unusual discharge and soreness. You'll be familiar with your normal bodily functions but if you notice that the discharge is particularly green or yellow and is accompanied by a bad odour, then you will need to get this looked at by a specialist.
Pain During Sex
Even if things begin to clear up, you may find that having sex is particularly painful and results in additional soreness in the genital area. This could be a hangover from your previous condition, a specific infection or could be caused by uterine fibroids. Again, you should talk with a specialist for further advice.
Seeing a Gynaecologist
While a doctor may well be able to prescribe you some antibiotics for a relatively simply urinary tract infection, you should make an appointment with your gynaecologist if you notice an unusual discharge. They will be able to take a closer look at the situation and prescribe a course of treatment to get everything back to normal.