Several men report that they experience burning at the tip of their urethra. This article broadly discusses the causes especially when there is no STD, when not urinating and after urinating. It also highlights what to do
Causes
In most cases, pain at the tip and pain at the tip of the urethra is connected. Below are the general causes of pain at the tip of the urethra.
Yeast infections
If you have a weak or depressed immune system, you are likely to be attacked by a yeast infection. This could be due to exposure to certain medications or due to a fungal infection. This infection is likely to spread to the tip of the urethra causing a burning sensation.
Allergic reaction to chemicals
Once the urethra tip gets into contact with irritants such as harsh chemicals, it is likely to respond by an allergic reaction. As a result, you will experience a burning sensation at the tip of the urethra. Examples of irritants likely to cause such a reaction are; creams, condoms containing spermicide, harsh soaps, contraceptive jelly, and deodorants.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sometimes, burning sensation at the tip of the urethra is an indication that you have a sexually transmitted infection. The most common cause of the burning sensation include the following; Warts, Herpes, Genital, Trichomoniasis, and Public lice.
Penile trauma
When your organ is injured, you are likely to injure the urethra as well. Some of the possible causes of trauma is when the organ rubs on a rough clothing such as the underwear, vigorous sexual activity, or penile surgery.
Uncircumcised male
Balanitis is an inflammation and infection of the glans. When you are uncircumcised, the tip and hence the tip of the urethra offers a conducive environment for the growth of bacteria. The tip becomes tight and very painful and this affects the tip of your urethra as well.
Medication side effects
In some cases, you experience a burning sensation at the tip of the urethra following intake of some medicines. The common medications associated with such a reaction are antidepressants and those of blood pressure.
Poor hygiene
If you maintain poor hygiene, you are likely to encourage accumulation of dirt. When this dirt accumulates at the tip of the urethra, you are likely to experience irritation which in the long run results to a burning sensation.
Urethritis
This is a condition which in most cases affects the urethra. This is the tube which is responsible for carrying urine from the bladder to the outside.[1] When the urethra experiences irritation and becomes irritated, you have a condition described as urethritis. This irritation is likely to go all the way to the tip of the urethra causing a burning sensation.
Urethral stricture
The urethra is structure such that it is wide enough to allow free flow of urine. At times, however, the urethra narrows making it difficult for urine to flow.
This strain on the urethra affects its tip as well. One of the symptoms indicating that the tip of the urethra is affected as well is burning sensation.[2]
General Symptoms
Below are the accompanying symptoms in the case where you have burning at the tip of the urethra. These symptoms will vary depending on what exactly is the cause of the burning sensation.
- Inability to urinate
- Itchiness
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Unusual discharge
- Chills
- Blood in the urine
- Urgent and frequent urge to urinate
Burning Sensation tip of urethra no STD & Discharge
Although the burning tip of the urethra may be an indication that you have an STD,which often to discharge, there are cases when the two are not related. Discussed below are the causes and possible indications.
Why the burn without STD?
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is described as a condition that results to prostate glands inflammation. There are two most common causes of this condition; firstly, Escherichia (a bacterium), and secondly, prostate gland injury. The glands found on the lower side of a man’s bladder are the prostate glands.
Among the major symptoms associated with this condition is burning tip of the urethra. Other symptoms include; fever and chills, pain and a struggle when urinating, and pain on your lower abdomen.
Reactive arthritis
When your body is attacked by any infection, you may have reactive arthritis. When you have bacterial infection in your intestines, you stand a very high chance of getting reactive arthritis. This form of infection is considered the most common trigger.
One of the common symptoms associated with reactive arthritis is inflammation of the tip of the urethra. This inflammation causes the tip of the urethra to burn. Other symptoms of this type of arthritis include; inflammation of the skin and eyes, and difficult when urinating.
Poor hygiene
If you do not clean your private parts well, you may be encouraging dirt accumulation. This is likely to result to itching at the tip of the urethra. In most cases, such itching results to a burning sensation at the tip of the urethra.
Penile psoriasis
Psoriasis is one of the many types of skin infection. It affects a part of your body and can very easily spread to other parts of your body. Penile psoriasis is the term used to refer to psoriasis which affects the area.
Penile psoriasis causes the skin around the tip of the urethra to peel. This leads to itching and a burning sensation. Psoriasis around your genitals is considered very dangerous and you should always seek medical attention once the early symptoms are noticed.
What it may indicate
When you experience a burning sensation at the tip of the urethra and the doctor confirms that you do not have any STD, it is an indication that you need to watch out for other causes such as the ones discussed above.
When not Urinating
Although you will most likely experience burning sensation in the urethra during or after urination, there are times the burning sensation is there in the course of the day when you are not urinating. Some of the causes include the following;
Obstructive Uropathy
This occurs when there is a reversed direction flow of the urine in case of blockage of any of the ureters. The possible causes of this blockage are blood clots, and kidney stones in the ureter.
Poor hygiene
This is common cause whether you are urinating or not. If the dirt that accumulates around your genitals extends to the urethra, you will likely experience a burning sensation even when not peeing.
Gonorrhea
If you are diagnosed with this STI you will notice that one of the symptoms is burning sensation in the urethra even when you are not urinating. It can cause extreme discomfort and you therefore need immediate treatment.
Orchitis
This is an inflammation of the skin around the area. It is associated with viral and bacterial infections. Nimpus virus is the main cause of this condition. When you have orchitis, you will experience pain and irritation in the urethra even when not urinating.
What it may indicate
If you experience burning sensation when you are not urinating, it may be an indication that the irritation has nothing to do with your bladder, and hence your urine. In rare cases, it is also an indicator that you have transitional cell cancer.
After urinating
The most common reasons for burning at the tip of your urethra once you are done urinating are linked with infections. Some of the most common infections responsible for such burning b include the following;
Herpex simplex virus
Abbreviated as HSV, Herpes Simplex Virus is the virus causing herpes. In case of direct contact, HSV can be passed from one person to another and it is hence described as contagious.
Burning at the tip of the urethra when you are done urinating is one of the common symptoms associated with this virus.
Other signs of HSV to look out for when you have burning at the tip of the urethra but you have doubts what exactly the cause is are; fever and chills, lack of appetite, feeling tired, swelling of lymph nodes, and urinary tract inflammation.
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Also referred to as nonbacterial prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a condition which causes inflammation and pain in the pelvis, prostate, and lower urinary tract. In the United States, this condition affects approximately 8% to 15% of the men.
If you have this condition, the tip of your urethra is likely to be inflamed and this comes along with irritation and burning after urinating.
Other symptoms of this condition are; genital pains and repeated desire to urinate
Urethritis
When your urethra faces irritation and inflammation, you are likely to have the condition referred to as urethritis. This condition has very similar symptoms to the urinary tract infections.
Symptoms of urethritis include; burning at the tip of your urethra after urinating.
Bladder Stones
When there is concentrated urine remaining in your bladder, it is likely to form mineral-like crystals referred to as bladder stones.
There are two main reasons why your bladder may have concentrated urine; failure of the body to totally drain the bladder and dehydration.
Other reasons include; urinary tract infections, enlargement of the prostate and general bladder problems.
Examples of symptoms associated with bladder stones are; pain and burning at the tip of the urethra after you urinate, bloody or cloudy urine, pain in the lower abdomen, urinating frequently, and difficulty in controlling urine.
Chlamydial Urethritis
Chlamydial Urethritis is the bacteria causing the infection chlamydial urethritis. Its transmission is through sexual contact. Symptoms that indicate Chlamydial Urethritis include; burning sensation in the urethra after urinating (also during urinating), swelling of the male organs
What it may indicate
Generally, if you experience a burning sensation at the tip of the urethra after urinating, it is an indicator that there are underlying infections in your body as discussed above.
You will therefore need to undergo thorough tests for your doctor to determine which infection is causing your condition and where you possibly got the infection from.
What to do
There several ways to relieve your urethra tip of the burning sensation. You will however need to identify the underlying cause with the help of your doctor. Below are some of the effective treatment options;
- Use of antifungal medications such as tablets, suppositories, ointments, and creams is one of the most effective treatment options. Your doctor may also advice that you use oral antifungal medication (fluconazole). This form of treatment is most applicable when the cause is yeast infections.
- Over the counter antihistamines are also common prescriptions by your doctor where the burning sensation is an allergic reaction. They ensure allergens do not react with your body by blocking histamine receptors.
- If STIs are the underlying cause of the burning sensation at the tip of the urethra, your doctor may prescribe you with a combination of antibiotic and antiviral medications.
- Mayo clinic advices that, if the reason behind the burning sensation is allergy to drugs, you should avoid those drugs or ask your doctor to prescribe you with substitute drugs.
Sources
[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/urethritis
[2] https://www.healthline.com/symptom/pain-in-urethra
