Burning Sensation After Urinating But No Infection: Causes and Tips

“UTIs are the most typical trigger and often the very first thing we need to rule out,” says Karl J. Kreder, MD, MBA, a professor of urology on the University 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 usually be detected with at-home take a look at kits and a urine tradition at your physician’s workplace.

However for those who’ve dominated out an an infection, it is not a useless finish. There are a number of different well being circumstances that might be the perpetrator. Learn on to be taught the most typical 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 put up urination vary from delicate to extra extreme. Listed here are the highest causes.

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

Interstitial cystitis (IC)—generally known as painful bladder syndrome—could 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 embody the next, per the Mayo Clinic:

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

IC can worsen whenever you’re in your interval or after intercourse, however the actual reason behind the situation is basically unknown. Medical doctors suspect, although, that it is related to irritation, autoimmune reactions, or genetics, per the Mayo Clinic.

“Interstitial cystitis might be accompanied by wider unfold ache all through the physique,” provides Dr. Kreder. He says it’s a analysis of exclusion, that means a physician will take a look at for different causes and if every part is damaging, you might get an IC analysis.

Find out how to deal with it

The primary line of remedy for IC is way of life adjustments like consuming extra water, eliminating meals or drinks (like espresso) that set off flare-ups, and lowering stress. Your physician may refer you to a pelvic floor therapist to assist strengthen your pelvic ground muscular tissues. In extreme instances, your physician can prescribe an oral overactive bladder (OAB) treatment to alleviate urinary discomfort, per the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

2. It is a being pregnant facet impact

Should you get urinary tract irritation whenever you’re pregnant or postpartum, it is more than likely due to a UTI, in keeping with Stanford Health. However that’s not the one potential purpose. It may be because of pores and skin irritation or irritation within the urethra—from hormone adjustments throughout being pregnant, says Apurva Pancholy, MD, a urogynecologist with UTHealth Houston.

Find out how to deal with it

Should you’re pregnant (or not too long ago had a child) and really feel even slight burning after urination, attain out to your physician, says Dr. Pancholy. They may also help you determine the trigger, and resolve on the correct remedy plan.

3. You will have bladder or kidney stones

A post-void burning sensation that is sharp or intense might be from bladder or kidney stones. Bladder stones are onerous clumps of minerals discovered within the bladder, usually attributable to a small quantity of urine remaining within the bladder after peeing, per the Cleveland Clinic. Kidney stones, alternatively, are onerous clumps discovered all through your urinary tract, which generally kind from too many minerals and too little liquid in your pee, per the Cleveland Clinic.

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

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

Find out how to deal with it

Whereas it may be extraordinarily painful, most bladder or kidney stones cross by means of the urinary tract on their very own—with out medical intervention. Should you suppose you are passing a stone, drink plenty of water and attain out to your physician to run blood or urine checks. These checks could assist forestall future stones and medical doctors may present treatment or help to assist your present stone cross extra simply.

4. You are in menopause

Menopause is usually a time the place noninfectious urinary signs are inclined to pop up. Throughout this life transition, your estrogen ranges drop. This lower could 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 fluctuate, many individuals really feel a burning sensation throughout or after peeing and vaginal dryness.

Find out how to deal with it

“A whole lot of occasions, this may be handled with topical estrogen,” says Dr. Kreder. Different choices embody nonhormonal lubricants, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), or different hormone therapies. Should you’re transitioning to menopause (otherwise you’re already in it), do not be afraid to let your physician learn about your menopause symptoms, so you will get correct remedy.

5. You will have urethral stricture illness

Should you’re an individual with a penis, urethral burning after peeing might be from one thing known as urethral stricture illness. This situation causes your urethra to slim, which might sluggish the stream of pee out of your bladder and result in ache or burning whenever you pee. Different signs can embody the next, per Mount Sinai:

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

Find out how to deal with it

Aside from carefully monitoring your signs and relieving ache with treatment, there are a number of completely different procedures that may be carried out to assist with urethral stricture. This contains urethral dilatation (a process the place the urethra is widened or stretched) or inside urethrotomy (the place it’s widened by chopping out scar tissue). If each do not supply 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 consequence from an STI like chlamydia or gonorrhea, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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

Find out how to deal with it

Treating nonbacterial urethritis will depend upon the trigger. If it is from an STI, you may possible have to abstain from intercourse and take antibiotics to deal with any lingering an infection, per the NHS. If it is from different causes, your physician could 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 accountable. This an infection is usually the results of an untreated STI—often chlamydia or gonorrhea, per the CDC. Different frequent signs to look out for embody the next, per the CDC:

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

Treating PID as quickly as attainable is vital as a result of, even after remedy, PID could result in fertility points. In truth, in keeping with the CDC, 1 in 8 girls with a historical past of PID have issue getting pregnant.

Find out how to deal with it

Treating PID usually comes all the way 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 correct antibiotic, per the CDC.

8. It is from an STI

“Any an infection of the urinary tract could cause a burning sensation when urinating, and that features STIs,” says Dr. Kreder. The STIs more than likely to trigger urinary discomfort after peeing are chlamydia or gonorrhea, however there are others that may trigger related signs. Different indicators of STIs usually embody 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
• Pain during sex
• Fever
• Widespread rash

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

Find out how to deal with it

After getting examined, your physician can work out the proper remedy plan for you. This may usually embody 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 will not be as frequent, however its early warning indicators usually embody noninfectious urinary tract signs. You could discover blood in your urine, have the urge to urinate extra usually, get again ache, or get a burning sensation after you pee, per the Mayo Clinic. In late levels, it may additionally trigger ache in your pelvis or different bones or joints.

Find out how to deal with it

Bladder most cancers is identified by means of a sequence of checks 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. Remedy sometimes includes rounds of radiation or chemotherapy and typically surgical procedure to take away the bladder.

Find out how to cease a burning sensation after urinating

“Consider it or not, adjustments in weight loss plan are sometimes the primary line of remedy,” particularly if in case you have IC, says Dr. Pancholy. He says frequent meals that may set off urinary discomfort embody:

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

Together with weight loss plan 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 calm down your pelvic muscular tissues when peeing. Maintaining together with your private hygiene (that’s, washing “down there” regularly) and stopping an infection can also be vital.

And since your signs might be associated to a a lot greater well being concern, Dr. Pancholy recommends reaching out to your physician. They will prescribe any needed drugs 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 floor exercises by yourself simply but (i.e., with out a therapist’s steering). Not all of the workouts you discover on-line will remove that burning sensation earlier than, throughout, or after peeing; knowledgeable’s assistance is advisable.

When to see a physician

“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 occurring continuously, then it’s time to get evaluated as a result of there are remedies obtainable,” he provides. A primary-care physician, gynecologist, or urologist ought to have the ability to work out the underlying trigger and refer you to the correct specialist.

You must 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 may also help you determine the trigger. “There’s not one treatment that treats each case,” says Dr. Kreder. “A physician will create a analysis based mostly on a affected person’s historical past, bodily examination, a urine tradition, and typically different checks.”

FAQ

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

The precise size will depend on the trigger. In some instances, burning pee can go away by itself in a number of days, particularly for those who’re consuming water, peeing recurrently, and maintaining together with your private hygiene. Different occasions, it could 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 treatment stops burning pee?

There are a number of completely different over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription treatment choices that may relieve a burning sensation whenever you pee. For instance, AZO (an OTC analgesic), may also help 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 remedy. (FYI, you’ll be able to nonetheless use at-home UTI remedies like making use of warmth alongside meds, too!)

What meals are for optimum bladder well being?

A bit-known bladder fact is that sure meals can truly assist (or irritate) it. The best foods for bladder health embody fruits and veggies with a excessive water content material, comparable to peaches, papaya, cauliflower, and kale. High-fiber foods, together with entire grains, legumes, and potatoes, are additionally good choices.