How Do I Treat That Burning/Stinging Sensation When I Pee?

The most common cause of the burning/stinging could either be a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or Vaginal Thrush. The first thing to determine is where the symptoms are actually coming from because urinary tract infections and vaginal thrush involve two totally separate systems and therefore require very different treatments.

A UTI is an infection of the urinary tract, either or a combination of, the urethra, ureters, bladder or kidneys.

Urine itself is sterile however because of a woman's anatomy, (a woman's urethra is shorter and closer to the anus), bacteria can be spread from the anus, therefore women are more prone to UTI's

Increased sexual activity can cause UTI's however if you have a new sexual partner and aren't using protection there are micro-organisms that are sexually transmitted.

Some medical conditions can put people at greater risk of contracting UTI's these include people who need to use urinary catheters, men with prostrate problems and people with diabetes. http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-utis/

Sometimes babies can also be at risk, although the only symptom may be an unexplained high fever. http://www.babycenter.com/0_urinary-tract-infection-in-babies_10910.bc

UTI's can cause more serious problems so you are best to see your doctor if your symptoms:-

• persist for more than day
• if you have a fever
• if you have blood in your urine
• if you have had repeated bouts of symptoms
• if it occurs with a new sexual partner
• or if it's a child or a man

The doctor will ask you to give a urine sample to determine what type of bacteria is causing the infection so the correct antibiotic can be prescribed.

There are some over the counter remedies available.

The product Ural (available in Australia) is a urinary alkaliniser, which works by reducing the acidity in the urine therefore reducing the stinging sensation.

Cranberry supplements (the concentrated form of drinking cranberry juice). There are a number of different opinions as to how this works ranging from the antioxidant properties being helpful to cranberry reducing the adhesion of bacteria to the walls of the urinary tract and another study suggests that cranberry extracts affect the gene in the actual bacteria that causes the infection. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263426.php

Hiprex is also another over the counter medication in Australia that is used to help eliminate and suppress the bacteria that causes UTI's.

However you're still best to go see your doctor for the quickest most effective treatment.

Vaginal thrush is a very common infection caused by Candida Albicans BUT it's also important to consider that there are other vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis. And then there's sexually transmitted ones.

A whooping 75% of women will have vaginal thrush (the kind caused by candida albicans) at some stage of their life. Symptoms are typically an itching, sometimes burning sensation most noticeable while urinating or having sex.

There are lots of causes of vaginal thrush, wearing tight underwear, not eating properly and being stressed, taking prescribed antibiotics, hormonal changes...etc...etc

There are a multitude of over the counter treatments you can get from pharmacies.

• The single dose fluconazole, oral, capsule that you take with a glass of water any time of the day with or without food is very popular but doesn't always work.
• Vaginal creams that you insert into the vagina range from single dose treatments, to 3 day, 6 day and 14 days if you have a particularly stubborn case.
• and pessaries, which are like a tablet that you insert vaginally and range similarly to the cream .
• you may also need to treat your sexual partner

In regards to general care it is beneficial to wear loose fitting clothing, preferably cotton, your best to pat dry rather than rub and avoid using perfumed bathing products.

If your still concerned with your bits and whats going on, you're best to see some sort of health professional, preferably specializing in Women's Health, have ALL your questions written down and tick them off as you go for your own piece of mind and well being.

And whoever said "you need balls to be tough"...didn't own a vagina!