Painful urination is felt as pain or a burning sensation with urination. The discomfort is felt in the areas of the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, or in the perineum, the area between the anus and the genitals. This symptom is commonly associated with infections of the urinary tract and the genitals.
Urinary Tract Infections
The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The Mayo Clinic says bacteria can enter through the urethra and multiply quickly in the bladder. Normally, the urinary system eliminates microorganisms, but a glitch in the body's defense mechanism causes bacterial overgrowth and infection. Women are more susceptible to urinary tract infections in the bladder and urethra. Cystitis is an infection in the bladder caused by E. coli, found in the gastrointestinal tract. Sexual intercourse can lead to cystitis. However, the close proximity of the urethra to the anus and the short distance between the urethra and bladder are the main reasons for developing cystitis. Urethritis is an infection of the urethra caused by the spread of bacteria from the anus to the urethra. Common causes are the proximity of the urethra to the anus and sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Women are susceptible to urethritis because of the close proximity of the urethra to the vagina.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis refers to a group of disorders involving the prostate gland. The prostate gland is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. According to the Mayo Clinic, acute and chronic prostatitis is caused by bacteria in urine that escape from the urethra into the prostate. One symptom of prostatitis is painful urination.
Atrophic Vaginitis
MedlinePlus describes vaginitis as the inflammation of the vagina due to thinning of tissue and a decrease in lubrication. Painful urination is a symptom of this condition thought to be caused by a decrease in estrogen levels.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Painful urination is a symptom of bacterial vaginosis, which is a type of vaginitis caused by the overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria normally found in the vagina. Risk for bacterial overgrowth increases for women with multiple sex partners, who douche or use an intrauterine device as a form of birth control.
Yeast Infection
A yeast infection is a type of vaginitis caused by changes that alter the normal balance in the vagina. According to the Mayo Clinic, C. albicans is the fungus that commonly overgrows and causes a yeast infection. The risks for developing a yeast infection include use of certain medications such as antibiotics, uncontrolled diabetes and hormonal changes associated with use of birth control pills, pregnancy and menopause. Painful urination is one symptom of a yeast infection.
