Burning at the Tip? Signs of Urinary Tract Infection You Need to Know
Do you feel burning at the tip when you pee? It is probably the sign of urinary tract infection (UTI). The occurrence of UTIs is more frequent in women. In fact, the risks of a woman getting UTI once in her lifetime is about 40 to 50%. You can take a closer look with this blog at the link of a burning sensation while urination to that of a UTI.
What exactly is Urinary Tract Infection?
The origin of urinary tract infection, more commonly known as UTI, is bacterial growth in the urethra, kidneys or bladder. Urethra is the connecting tube between the bladder and the opening between vagina and clitoris. Women urinate through this opening.
UTIs produce extreme inconvenience for women. Among the major complications, women experience miserable pelvic pain with a feeling of frequent urination. This eventually increases the burning sensation at the tip. Severe conditions of UTI may lead to serious health complications like kidney infection.
Know the Symptoms of UTI
Some of the common UTI symptoms include:
- Irresistible pain in the pelvis or abdomen
- Frequent feeling of urination
- A painful urination with a burning sensation at the tip
- Urge of urination even with empty bladder
- A reddish or cloudy texture of urine
Intense conditions may affect the kidney or bloodstream, causing:
- Chills or fever
- Feeling of nausea
- Vomiting tendency
- Pain in the middle back, a probable sign indicating inflammation o the kidneys.
When should you see a doctor?
Burning at the tip when you pee definitely requires medical consultation. However, on observing the following conditions you must opt for a medical advice:
- Lower back pain
- Blood in the urine
- Recurrent occurrence of fever
Diagnosis Methods
You need not worry in case you suspect having a UTI. The simplest method to diagnosing a UTI is urinalysis. You need to provide your urine sample at first. For this you have to urinate and collect it in a cup. The clinician will then examine your urine sample to detect any sign of infection.
In case the clinician finds any risk of infection in your urine, a 3 to 5 days’ course of antibiotic will be effective. However, the scenario will be different in case the infections keep occurring repeatedly. You need to undertake a urine culture test.
In this test, the culture functions by identifying the bacteria causing repeated infections. This helps your clinician select the most effective antibiotic for treating your condition. However, you cannot get the results of a urine culture test at least before 2 to 4 days.
What are the risks of UTI?
Urinary tract infection can occur in women from several reasons. Here’s a guide to the risk factors of UTI:
- Sexual activities
Research findings suggest higher risks of UTIs from a sexual intercourse. In fact, initiatives for birth control can also trigger the risks of UTI. Using spermicide, diaphragm or vaginal lubricants can lead to the change of bacterial configuration in the vagina. This automatically develops greater risks of UTI.
- Suppression of Immune System
The outbreak of an acute or a chronic illness fosters negative effects on the immune system. The functions of your immune system automatically suppresses, decreasing the power of defence against bacterial invasion. This enhances your vulnerability to the risks of UTI.
- Dysfunction due to Empty Bladder
The voids inside your bladder may give rise to certain health conditions. These conditions eventually raise the risks of urinary tract infections. These may include injury in the spinal cord or neuropathy. Neuropathy suggests a condition causing improper nerve function.
- Menopause
The pH levels in your body undergo massive changes with menopause. This brings about transformation in the bacterial makeup of the vagina. This change is a great driving factor of the risks of UTI.
Tips for Prevention
By following the preventive measures below, you can reduce your chances of getting UTI:
- Empty your Bladder Frequently
You must not hold your urine when you have an urge to go. According to the scientists, you must empty your bladder timely. You need to urinate for this at a gap of at least every four hours in a day. Moreover, if you urinate immediately after having sex, you have the maximum chances to wash the bacteria away from your urethral opening.
- Have Plenty of Water
The intake of plenty amounts of water significantly reduces your chances of getting a urinary tract infection. Doctors recommend to drink at least 2 litres of water per day. This can reduce your risks of getting recurrent UTIs.
- Practice Safer Cleaning
You must maintain a clean and dry urethra and vagina to avoid bacterial growth. For this, you need wipe your vaginal opening and urethral region very gently from front to back. This prevents any kind of bacterial contamination.
You must also avoid irritants like fragrances, parabens or dyes in your urethra or vaginal region. Instead, you must clean it with mild warm water regularly.
- Go for a Different Birth Control Option
You may experience recurrent infections in the urinary tract due to using different devices for birth control. You should look for other alternatives of birth control in case of facing discomfort due to spermicides, condoms or diaphragms.
How can you treat UTI?
You must immediately visit a doctor in case you are observing signs like urinary leakage, painful urination, pelvic pain or frequent urge of urination. Consulting a clinician can help you identify the original cause of the infection and root out the problems permanently.
Remember, UTIs cannot recover on it’s own. You must consult your healthcare provider as soon as you notice any such symptom.
Key Takeaways
It is obvious that burning at the tip when you pee occurs only when there is a problem disturbing the urinary tract. Therefore, we can definitely conclude that a burning sensation at the tip is a prominent sign of urinary tract infection. However, potential treatments and antibiotics can effectively resist the spread of recurrent UTIs in your body.
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