Difficulty urinating: 10 possible explanations

Posted by Be Fit on May 30th, 2019

Difficulty urinating: 10 possible explanations

Urination is part of our natural and spontaneous needs. Sometimes urination can be painful or difficult. Here are 10 possible explanations.

Sources:

Interview with Dr. Delphine Amsellem-Ouazana, surgeon urologist in Paris.
French Association of Urology: www.urofrance.org
Forum female sexual disorders
Forum cystitis and urinary problems
Urinary incontinence forum, leaks

1/10

Urinary tract infection: cystitis

Relatively frequent and usually not serious, cystitis in women is mainly manifested by burning on urination, an increase in the frequency of need and urine disorders (or even containing blood). Involved: germs from the digestive tract that colonize the bladder upward. "Cystitis is more common in young women and postmenopausal women, and generally, appropriate antibiotic therapy will stop the infection," says urologist-surgeon Dr. Amsellem-Ouazana. It is also important to follow some dietary and hygiene rules such as drinking enough water and thinking about going to the bathroom after sex. Note: some hygiene products used for personal hygiene can promote the recurrence of urinary tract infections. This is the case of wipes, deodorants, sprays or gynecological soaps when used daily ... An excess of personal hygiene and practices such as douches, for example, are also to be avoided because they cause an imbalance microbial flora.

2/10

A urinary infection in humans: prostatitis

In men, the infection of the prostate or prostatitis causes, in addition to the symptoms of cystitis, a sometimes high fever accompanied by chills. Difficulty in urination can be extreme, going as far as the impossibility of urination. "In this case also, antibiotic treatment is necessary.If unable to urinate, emergency consultation is required so that the urologist empty the bladder by placing a catheter or a catheter," says Dr. Amsellem- Ouazana.

3/10

Another human infection: urethritis

It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes inflammation of the urethra. Urethritis may be manifested by urethral burns and discharge but may be asymptomatic. Urethritis mainly affects men. It is no longer germs of digestive origin but of germs contracted during unprotected sex. This type of infection is treated with antibiotic treatment adapted to these particular germs.

4/10

Renal infection: pyelonephritis

Neglected cystitis can sometimes be complicated by kidney involvement: it is called pyelonephritis. Other symptoms appear such as fever, chills, nausea and especially lower back pain. Again, antibiotic treatment is prescribed after further examinations. "Pyelonephritis can also occur as a result of renal colic, in which case urgent surgical management is required," says Dr. Amsellem-Ouazana.

5/10

The painful bladder syndrome

Formerly called interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome affects women in 90% of cases. The symptoms are marked and disabling. These are very common and painful urges to urinate in the absence of any urinary tract infection. The urination relieves the pains but these reappear almost immediately. This syndrome should not be confused with that of overactive bladder where urination is urgent, frequent, but not painful. Sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat, this syndrome requires long-term care. "Techniques such as bladder dilation, taking specific medications or instilling products directly into the bladder help to calm painful episodes but do not always solve the problem forever".

6/10

Prostate disorders

Apart from its infection (prostatitis, see above), prostatic pathologies can lead to difficulty urinating. This is the case of the adenoma of the prostate or benign prostatic hypertrophy. In this type of problem, urges to urinate are more common, including at night. Often, the bladder does not empty properly. Specific drugs exist and will be prescribed. "If the treatment proves to be insufficient, a surgical intervention can then be considered," adds Dr. Amsellem-Ouazana. Note that prostate cancer does not usually cause urinary symptoms. "This is why it must be screened systematically, because when it is responsible for difficulties in urinating, the stage is usually already advanced."


7/10

Kidney stones

The stones form in the kidneys. When they migrate to the bladder, they can be responsible for nephritic colic, often very painful. When stones approach the bladder, the pain can make room for frequent urges to urinate. "If they are stuck in the urethra, there are difficulties in urinating, there is also blood in the urine, and if the calculi do not clear naturally, surgery by natural means may be necessary." says Dr. Amsellem-Ouazana.

8/10

Bladder stones (or urolithiasis)

It is most often a human pathology. Bladder stones have nothing to do with kidney stones. They are formed by stagnation of urine in the bladder and may be the consequence of an adenoma of the prostate or a narrowing of the urethra. "They are manifested by urinary discomfort, burns, or even blood in the urine.A surgical intervention coupled with the treatment of the cause is most often necessary."

9/10

A tumor

Benign or malignant, a tumor can cause urinary difficulties. The bleeding of the tumor causes clots whose elimination after urination can be painful. If you notice blood in your urine or pain when you urinate, it may be a kidney or bladder tumor. In general, the presence of blood in the urine - even in small quantities - should lead to consulting an urologist to perform a complete assessment in search of the cause of bleeding.

10/10

Some medicines

Some treatments used in chemotherapy for example can create an inflammation of the bladder and make urination painful. In addition, the fall of the immune system also makes the body more vulnerable to infections of all kinds.