What are the symptoms?

Patients of both genders will usually experience burning, stinging and itching. In some situations, they may feel pain right where urine exits the body. Others may feel it inside their body, particularly in the bladder or prostate. During the period of disease, patients tend to urinate more often.

(Read also: Six things you should know about your pee) 

What are the causes?

Dysuria may result from a number of common medical conditions and external causes, including:

- Bladder stones: Hard lumps of minerals formed and developed in your bladder when it’s not completely empty of urine. They block the flow of urine and lead to dysuria

- Cystitis: A kind of bladder inflammation that is often caused by bacteria getting into the urinary tract through the urethra

- Prostatitis: An infection or inflammation of the prostate in men. It often causes painful or difficult urination

- Vaginitis: An inflammation of vagina that results from a change in the normally balanced vaginal bacteria. It also can also lead to discharge and itching

- Urethritis: An inflammation of the urethra

- Kidney infection: A specific type of urinary tract infection

- Kidney stones: Small, hard stones made of minerals and acid salts that are formed in the kidney and can scratch the kidney, causing pain and blood

- Non-cancerous or cancerous tumor in the urinary tract

- Side effect of drugs in cancer treatment

- Vaginal sensitivity or irritation: Can be caused by scented soaps, bubble bath, toilet paper or other products like douches, contraceptive sponges or spermicides

- Sexually transmitted infections: This includes chlamydia, genital herpes and gonorrhea. If infected, patients will suffer from pain, itching, burning, blisters/sores in the genital area and abnormal discharge.

When to see the doctor?

You should contact a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: Your dysuria persists more than one day, there is blood in your urine, painful urination during pregnancy, you pass out a bladder stone or kidney stone or when there's discharge or drainage from your vagina or penis.

How is painful urination diagnosed and treated?

To diagnose your dysuria, a doctor will assess your description of symptoms, your medical and sexual history, analyze a urine sample and/or test your bladder or prostate.

The medication prescribed will depend on the main cause of your painful urination. At home, you can help yourself to reduce discomfort, itching, burning and pain by drinking more water and taking over-the-counter medicine. (kes)