Frequent urination and burning can indicate different conditions depending on gender. Women are more prone to bladder and urinary tract infections, while men are more likely to have STDs. Cystitis and inflamed bladder can also cause these symptoms. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are common STDs that can cause frequent urination and burning, and treatment usually involves antibiotics. Doctors may need to request a sexual history from patients with these diseases to inform their partners.
The causes of frequent urination and burning can signal different conditions, depending on the gender of the person. In women, these symptoms are usually caused by a bladder infection or urinary tract infection (UTI), although in some cases, it can be the result of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In men, urinary tract infections are considered quite rare due to the length of the urethra. The most common cause of frequent urination and burning in men is typically associated with STDs.
The urethra is a tube that carries urine out of the body. In women, the opening of the tube is very close to the rectum and rectal bacteria can easily be transferred into the urethra. Once there, the bacteria sometimes migrate to the bladder or even the kidneys. The positioning of the urethra in the anatomy of men makes it much less prone to bacterial infections. For this reason, women are much more susceptible to urinary tract infections than men.
Another condition that sometimes causes frequent urination and burning is cystitis or an inflamed bladder. It is usually caused by bacteria and is generally considered a type of UTI. Other causes of cystitis that aren’t caused by bacteria include catheter use and reactions to some types of medications. Left untreated, cystitis can spread to the kidneys and cause a much more serious condition. As with most types of UTIs, treatment usually involves a course of antibiotics.
Chlamydia is considered the most common STD and is thought to affect more than 3 million people each year. Along with the burning when urinating, chlamydia often includes a discharge from the vagina or penis. Chlamydia symptoms may go away without treatment, but the infection may still be present in the body. This results in many people carrying the disease around without even knowing it, which is probably one of the reasons why it is such a widespread contagion.
Another STD that can cause frequent urination and burning in both men and women is gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is another STD that sometimes goes undiagnosed because many people don’t experience any symptoms. Gonorrhea can occur in the sexual organs, rectum or throat. It is considered highly contagious, and if left untreated, gonorrhea can have serious side effects.
Treatment for both chlamydia and gonorrhea typically includes antibiotics. Furthermore, due to the risk of contagion, doctors are often required by law to request a 60-day sexual history from patients who have one of these diseases. Typically, doctors will need to know the names and contact information of sexual partners so these people can be made aware that they may be at risk.
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