Situation-dependent burning of the urethra

Alcohol can weaken the body’s immune system and therefore increase the risk of infections in general. The risk of urinary tract infections is also increased accordingly. In addition, alcohol consumption leads to heat loss, as the vessels in the extremities dilate.

Because this phenomenon also occurs in the urinary tract, the development of a urethritis is additionally promoted. After ejaculation, a burning sensation can occur in the urethra. If this happens occasionally and for a short period of time, without accompanying symptoms, the phenomenon can be harmless and of no disease value.

But there may also be inflammations and other diseases behind it. Therefore, a medical clarification is recommended. Often the burning in the urethra after ejaculation is also associated with urethritis, which is why ejaculations should be avoided if urethritis is present.

Diagnosis

At the beginning of the examination, the focus is on the specific questioning of the patient (anamnesis). This is followed by a physical examination during which, among other things, the bladder is palpated from the outside and the kidney bed on the back is tapped. In order to detect any possible pathogen, a smear of the urethra and a urine sample are taken.

A microscopic examination and evaluation is then carried out. Urine cultures are grown from the urine sample. The first stream of morning urine is required for this. If other underlying diseases are suspected, further examinations are carried out. For example, it may be necessary to measure certain blood values or to produce an ultrasound image of the abdomen.

Associated symptoms

The accompanying symptoms of urethritis are very similar to the symptoms of a bladder infection. In addition to the burning sensation in the urethra, many affected persons complain of a slight to very pronounced itching. Urination can be very painful.

It can also lead to an outflow from the urethra. This is known in medical terminology as fluorine. The discharge can be purulent or glassy-cloudy.

Sometimes the urethral orifice is also reddened. The symptoms can be very different in men and women. In some women, the inflammation of the urethra can sometimes only manifest itself as an unpleasant feeling when urinating or lower abdominal pain.

This carries the risk that the inflammation is discovered late. This can be problematic because untreated urethritis can spread to the fallopian tubes and ovaries, which in the worst case can lead to infertility. In men, the symptoms are most often more pronounced.

Burning of the urethra can be extremely intense when urinating, but also at rest. In addition, in men a so-called “bonjour drop” occurs. This is a morning purulent discharge from the urethra.

This is particularly observed in the course of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea. Furthermore, the inflammatory processes in men can extend to the prostate and testicles. If a chlamydia infection is accompanied by reactive joint inflammation (arthritis) and conjunctivitis in addition to urethritis, this is known as “Reiter’s syndrome“.

Illnesses and inflammations in the urinary tract system can cause an increased urge to urinate. It is also typical, for example, that the affected person often has to go to the toilet, but can only empty small amounts of urine at a time (so-called pollakiuria). This can be explained by a temporary misregulation and the inflammatory processes in the urinary tract.

This leads to urination disorders and pain. Nevertheless, or precisely for this reason, it is extremely important that those affected drink as much as possible. The aim of a high fluid intake is that the bacteria are flushed out of the body with the urine. It should not be attempted to hold back the urine for a long time. This can worsen the inflammatory processes.