Definition
Pain in the urethra is usually a burning and/or pressing sensation. It is caused by an irritation, which can have various causes.
Causes in women
In women, the most common cause of pain in the urethra is an inflammation of the bladder, which usually involves inflammation of the urethra. Because of the proximity of the urethra to the vagina and rectum, bacteria can easily reach the bladder. There they can then cause an inflammation.
This is also favored by the very short urethra of only 3 to 5 cm. The mere anatomy of the woman is therefore the strongest risk factor for a bladder infection. During frequent sex, this germ transfer from the rectum and the vagina to the urethral orifice takes place more frequently.
A further cause of a feeling of pain in the urethra can be so-called transurethral bladder catheters, which are advanced into the bladder via the urethra and thus drain the urine over a longer period of time and collect it in a collection bag at the outer end. On the one hand, the friction of the plastic in the urethra often causes irritation and on the other hand, an infection can enter the bladder and the ureter via the connection of the bladder to the outside. In both cases, pain in the urethra can occur.
Other causes of inflammation and thus pain in this area can be a malformation of the bladder, which allows residual urine to remain in the bladder, and inadequately treated diabetes mellitus. This disease is characterized by elevated sugar concentrations in the blood and urine, in which bacteria are particularly likely to multiply. In addition, drugs such as cyclophosphamide (used in chemotherapy), aspririn, ibuprofen and diclofenac can cause irritation. Another cause can be urinary bladder stones or even cancer, which lead to pain in the urethra. Especially if the symptoms occur more frequently or do not disappear for a long time, a doctor should find the exact cause.
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