In a he althy person, the surface of the urethra (urethra) is sterile, because it is constantly washed with urine, and it is a strong antiseptic. But for various reasons, both men and women can complain of itching in the urethra. This condition is more typical for women due to the anatomical structure of the urinary tract. In the fair sex, it looks like a short (3-5 cm) and wide tube. There are no complex bends, as in male organs, and infections can easily penetrate here, moving down into the bladder or up to the kidneys. According to statistics, in women, itching in the urethra occurs much more often. It speaks of the localization of inflammation or infections in this particular place and means the transition of the degeneration process to the acute phase.
Common causes
Itching is not a diagnosis, the nature of its origin can be very different. He is just an indicator of the pathological process. Causes of itching in the urethra in women can be divided into 3 large groups: infections, inflammation and traumamechanical origin. Also, a separate type includes hormonal imbalances, nutritional errors, allergies.
Non-pathological itching
This group includes unpleasant sensations due to external causes that have nothing to do with pathologies. Itching of the urethra in women without discharge is just typical for this group of causes.
What can be attributed to them:
- Hypothermia or overheating - accompanied by stagnation of lymph and blood, their outflow slows down. Due to the cold, the vessels spasm, and local immunity drops markedly. Edema occurs, which narrows the walls of the urethra, urine also passes slowly and begins to irritate the mucous membrane. With hypothermia, there is pain in the lower abdomen with a return to the lower back and sacrum, pain and burning during urination. With timely measures, itching is easily removed without an inflammatory reaction.
- Insufficient drinking regime - urine becomes more concentrated in relation to s alts. It does not pass without a trace through the urethra, irritation and burning with s alt crystals will definitely take place. The temperature may rise and the woman may feel sick.
- Wearing tight underwear and clothes - this provokes the above blood stasis and mechanical damage.
- Mechanical friction in the groin - occurs after cycling. This is always fraught with swelling of the tissues. The answer is itching in the urethra.
- Excessive consumption of s alt, fatty, smoked, spicy foods increases the concentration of s alts in urine.
- Genital piercing causes seemingly minormechanical injuries, but they can cause itching. This also includes microtraumas after intimacy, trauma to the mucous membrane with nails when washing, the rigidity of toilet paper, synthetics and uncomfortable style of underwear, birth injuries of the ureter. If this fact is ignored, infection of the urethra and itching may occur.
- Taking antibiotics disrupts the number of beneficial microflora and changes the composition of urine. Irritation of the walls of the urethra is its consequence.
- Inadequate hygiene can also cause problems, especially on critical days. Frequent douching has a negative effect. Even the sufficiency of hygiene when using aggressive care products can cause severe irritation of the skin and mucous membranes. You can suspect such products by the strong smell of soap, bright color, cheap price, etc.
- Contact with allergens can also occur when using clothes washed in cheap washing powders, with inappropriate lubricant on a condom, fragrances in a pad, tampons, etc.
- Surgery on the urinary tract can provoke itching in the urethra, but in this case, he will talk about the healing process. Such itching does not require treatment and goes away on its own. At this time, the doctor may prescribe antibacterial suppositories.
Conclusions: the hallmark of itching and burning due to the action of natural factors is the absence of secretions, when the irritating factor is removed, the symptom immediately disappears.
Changes in hormonal levels
Causes of itching in the urethrain women, it may be due to hormonal imbalance. This manifests itself in painful and frequent urination, burning and itching of the genitals, discharge in the form of whites and mucous lumps, discomfort during washing.
Such changes may be associated with thyroid dysfunction, in physiology - with pregnancy. In her first trimester, a hormonal surge occurs, the mucous membranes swell due to an increased level of prolactin (a pregnancy hormone necessary for its successful course). After 14 weeks, such symptoms disappear on their own, the hormonal background normalizes by this time. Self-medication in such cases is impossible, so as not to provoke a miscarriage.
Sexual infections
Sticks of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis cause itching and severe inflammation of the mucosa not only in the urethra, but throughout the genitourinary system. At the same time, the temperature is low (37.5 °), the genitals are reddened, swollen, there may be various types of rash, spots, mucous or purulent discharge. Especially the fact that during the first day the itching is very strong, and when the inflammation starts, it goes away. But this does not mean recovery.
Gonorrhea and other pathologies
Neisseria gonorrhoeae - These gonorrhea pathogens can spread up the urethra even during unprotected sex. The infection is contagious with any kind of sex.
Itching in the urethra is the first sign. It increases with urination, then the genitals become inflamed and purulent discharge of green-white color appears.
Chlamydia and herpes simplex are also sexually transmitted and are accompanied by itching in the urethra duringurination. Allocations are small in volume, transparent; there are aching pains in the lower abdomen and groin, there is a strong general weakness.
Bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance of lactobacilli and an increase in opportunistic microflora, especially gardnerella. Therefore, the second name of the pathology is gardnerellosis. There is dryness in the perineum, constant itching in the urethra in women, frequent urges. The discharge is characterized by its smell of rotten fish. They have a greenish color. Trichomoniasis is the most common cause of burning and itching in the urethra. It is the most common. In addition to itching, it is accompanied by discharge from the urethra, hematuria, pain when urinating.
Signs of the disease appear quickly - 3-5 days after infection. In men, the pathology is often asymptomatic. Self-treatment is excluded because, with similar signs, the causes and treatment are different.
Fungal infections
Another common cause of itching and burning in the urethra in women is fungal infections or candidiasis, thrush.
Provoke pathology can:
- sweet and starchy;
- stress;
- dysbiosis;
- decreased immunity, for example, during pregnancy.
Discharge and itching from the urethra in women in this case will accompany you until the fungus is eradicated. Urination becomes more frequent, which becomes painful, curdled discharge with a characteristic sour-milk odor appears.
Inflammation
This category includes all inflammationurogenital area, one of the symptoms of which is itching in the urethra. Inflammation is rapid and often complicated by infection. Therefore, treatment should not be postponed.
Kidney disease
Among them are pyelonephritis, urolithiasis. Their common symptoms:
- frequent urge to urinate and scant amount of urine;
- itching and burning in the urethra;
- lower abdominal cramps;
- pain in the lower back and sacrum;
- increased pressure - all these symptoms appear gradually and not together.
So, first things first:
- Urolithiasis. It can be considered more of a mechanical factor. When stones and sand come out, damage to the walls of the bladder and urethra occurs. This is the reason for the appearance of pain and burning during urination, itching in the urethra, pain in the lower abdomen, blood in the urine.
- Pyelonephritis is an inflammation of the renal pelvis. With such inflammation, the composition of urine changes (the appearance of sugar and protein in it), which cannot but be reflected in irritation of the walls of the urethra.
- Cystalgia. It is due to the high sensitivity of the bladder with a normal composition of urine, i.e. these disorders are functional. Itching in the urethra in women, burning and pain when urinating, dryness in the perineum occurs during menstruation and after intimacy. Inflammation and morphological changes in the tissues are absent here. Cystalgia is typical for young girls. It goes away when menstruation stops or enough time has passed since the end of sexual intercourse.contact. If the itching does not stop, you need to look for other reasons.
- Foreign bodies - they can get into the urethra with the careless removal of a tampon, the use of different "toys" for sex and masturbation. Suspicions of the presence of a foreign particle arise if, in addition to itching in the urethra, the outflow of urine is difficult. The jet becomes thin or does not appear at all. Extraction of foreign particles can only be performed by a doctor.
- Cystitis is the most common cause of itchy urethra in women with painful burning. Further, it is accompanied by frequent imperative urges, scarcity of urine (false urges), severe pain in the lower abdomen. When emptying the bladder, the pain intensifies. It is almost constant, may decrease somewhat, but does not completely disappear. Often cystitis in a woman becomes a consequence of urethritis. This is the most common cause of itching in women in the urethra. Hypothermia, prolonged urinary retention, and the intake of spicy or spicy foods can provoke pathologies. Also characteristic of cystitis is a change in the color of urine - white flakes and bloody threads can be seen in it with the naked eye.
Urethritis
Actual inflammation of the walls of the urethra of a bacterial nature. Inflammatory changes are characterized by the presence of itching in the urethra in women, burning sensations that increase at the beginning of the act of urination, after it they decrease, but do not disappear at all. A feature of female urethritis is its ability to spread up and down the urethra.
Disease forms
Urethritis in women is divided into infectious and non-infectious;acute and chronic. Infectious urethritis, in turn, is divided into non-specific - it is caused by opportunistic bacteria such as staphylo- and streptococci, E. coli and proceeds as a classic purulent inflammation; specific - occurs with sexually transmitted infections; viral - caused by the herpes simplex virus or human papillomavirus (HPV).
Symptoms of urethritis in women
In acute urethritis, the characteristic symptoms are burning, pain and itching in the urethra in women when urinating. In some cases, there may be purulent discharge from the urethral opening. In the future, pain and swelling decrease, the discharge stops. Urine is usually clear, sometimes with single purulent streaks. In the acute form of urethritis, the urge to urinate is imperative, pain is more common at the end of urination.
The general condition of urethritis in women is usually not disturbed. Acute symptoms resolve within 2-2.5 weeks. But this does not mean the cessation of inflammation, you need an examination by a doctor. With insufficient treatment, acute urethritis becomes chronic. It will aggravate and remind of itself with hypothermia, sexual arousal and frequent sexual intercourse, drinking alcohol. Then his symptoms will resemble torpid urethritis.
Tumors
Often, polyps form in the urethra as tumor precursors. Symptoms at this stage are poor. Itching increases and becomes burning. Then permanent pain, bloody clots in the urine join. In the absence of treatment, the general conditiongetting worse. Treatment is surgical only.
Malignant neoplasms are also poor in manifestations. Over time, the pain increases in the urethra, an admixture of blood appears in the urine. In neglected conditions, anemia and general exhaustion develop.
Whatever the cause of burning and itching in the urethra in women, it is necessary to be examined and start treatment in order to avoid complications and the transition to a chronic process, which is much more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis of urethral itching
To make a diagnosis, a smear from the urethral mucosa is examined for genital venereal infections. They also do urine tests. There is also an examination in the gynecological chair and ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
Urethral itching treatment
In therapy, doctors focus on 3 things:
- normalization of the walls of the urethra;
- normalization of the microflora of the vagina and uterus, by getting rid of pathogens;
- immunity restoration.
The treatment of itching in women in the urethra should include the following components:
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics - cephalosporins ("Cefazolin", "Cefotaxime", "Ceftriaxone"), macrolides ("Azithromycin", "Clarithromycin"); fluoroquinolones ("Clinafloxacin", "Ciprofloxacin"). It is important that for the success of their use it is necessary to determine the causative agent of the disease and its sensitivity to a particular type of antibiotic. Otherwise, the effect may not be seen. With gonorrhea, "Erythromycin" is effective,"Spectinomycin", "Oletetrin", "Ceftriaxone", "Rifampicin", "Cefacor". Trichomonas do not like "Metronidazole" (trichopolum), "Imorazol", "Ornidazole", "Chlorhexidine", candles "Iodovidon". With candidiasis - "Levorin", "Nystatin", "Natamycin", "Amphoglucamine", "Clotrimazole". Chlamydial and mycoplasmal urethritis will be well treated with tetracycline antibiotics.
- Local therapy - various sitz baths (a weak mixture of potassium permanganate, furatsilin, herbal decoctions of chamomile and sage, etc.).
- The introduction of special tampons with medicated ointments into the vagina.
- The use of immunostimulating and immunomodulatory drugs. In the treatment of urethritis, the water regime must be strictly observed. It is also important to pay attention to your diet. Provoking foods are best avoided. For viral urethritis, antiviral drugs are used: Ganciclovir, Aciclovir, Ribavirin, Famciclovir, Penciclovir, etc.
- Physiotherapy in the form of electrophoresis on the pubis and vaginally, diadynamic therapy of the lumbosacral zone, heating applications.
Prevention
Prevention in women:
- hormone replacement therapy for menopause;
- exclusion of stress;
- professional examinations at the gynecologist every six months;
- observance and correctness of intimate hygiene;
- avoid hypothermia;
- avoid abortion;
Regular sex is also important, but with one partner - the culture of sexual relations. This is not the case when the number of partners turns into quality.
