Is an STD Causing the Pain When I Pee?
Whilst pain when urinating is a common symptom of various STDs, it could also be a sign of other conditions that are not considered sexually transmitted diseases. In this blog, we’ll take you through various conditions which may be the cause of your pain when urinating.
What causes pain when urinating?
Pain, or a burning sensation when urinating, indicates that something isn’t quite right down below, but what is the cause of it? Often an STD causes pain when urinating, however, other infections, and even kidney stones, can cause your discomfort.
Regular sexual health testing can help to eliminate an STD as the cause of your pain when urinating, but it’s best to get checked by your GP to ensure correct treatment.
STDs that cause painful urination
There are a variety of STDs that have painful urination as a common symptom. These include:
Chlamydia
A common symptom of chlamydia is a burning or stinging sensation when urinating. This is caused by inflammation to the urinary tract.
Gonorrhoea
Like chlamydia, gonorrhoea causes the urinary tract to become inflamed. When urine passes through and exits the body, it irritates the already inflamed tissue causing pain, burning, or stinging sensations.
Trichomoniasis
People with trichomoniasis often don’t know they have it as it is an asymptomatic condition for many people, especially men. However, for those that do experience symptoms, painful urination is common.
Genital Herpes
Painful urination is a common symptom of genital herpes. You may experience a burning sensation if your urine touches the herpes sores. Similarly, herpes sores and swelling can also block your urethra, causing a burning or stinging sensation when you urinate.
Lesser-known STIs
If your doctor, or initial sexual health testing has ruled out the major STDs that cause pain when urinating, it is still possible that your condition is caused by a less common STD. Your Sexual Health offers comprehensive profile testing that tests against a wide range of STDs at the same time which can help determine the cause of your discomfort.
What else could it be?
If sexual health testing rules out STDs as the cause of your pain when urinating, there are a range of other infections that could be the culprit. Consult your GP for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
The bacteria responsible for a UTI also causes the bladder lining to become inflamed. This can cause urination to be painful or can cause a burning sensation when you pee.
Urethral syndrome
Similar to a UTI, urethral syndrome causes painful and frequent urination. The condition causes the urethra to become inflamed and irritated which, when urine passes through, causes pain, irritation, or a burning sensation.
Kidney stones
Pain or a burning sensation when urinating could be a sign of kidney stones. This occurs when the stone reaches the junction between the ureter and bladder, and can feel like a UTI. Depending on the size of the kidney stones, the pain you experience when urinating can differ from tiny stones that pass easily, to large inch-wide stones that require further medical attention.
When to contact your doctor
Testing for STDs can help to eliminate sexual health conditions as the cause of your painful urination, or diagnose it, allowing for quick and effective treatment. However, if your condition is not caused by an STD, it’s important to be checked out by a GP to get to the root of your problem as, left untreated, such infections can become severe and your pain may get worse over time.
Private STD testing with Your Sexual Health
Your Sexual Health offers a wide range of sexual health tests at private STD clinics across the UK. Choose between individual tests for conditions like chlamydia and gonorrhea, or opt for a comprehensive profile test that will test against a range of STDs in one go.
If you’re not sure what you need, speak to one of our friendly advisors who can help you decide.
