Does it hurt when you pee during your periods? An ob-gyn reveals why it happens

Burning or pain during urination is typically a symptom of several conditions – it can be normal and it can also be serious. If going to relieve yourself during your periods is a painful exercise, please understand that your hormones are busy doing many different things at that time of the month! And this reflects in your body in multiple ways. Pain while you urinate is also one of those things.

To know more about this, we got in touch with Dr Pratima Thamke, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Kharghar.

Here’s how menstruation and painful urination are connected

Dr Thamke says, “Painful urination, also known as (dysuria) is when there is intense pain, discomfort, or burning sensation while urinating. The discomfort will be there where urine passes out of one’s body.” She further says that if you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, then urination during menstruation can be painful. Never thought about this, right? 

Well, she explains, “Endometriosis implants can bleed in response to those cyclical hormone changes and there is no way for the blood to come out. Thus, the scar tissue gets built up and leads to excruciating pain in the pelvic region that also covers the bladder and rectum. Not only this, the blood present in the pelvic region has no way to escape as the misplaced blood invites irritation in the body along with endometriosis cysts. Thus, the bladder and rectum get pressurized, and one tends to encounter pain.” So this is how endometriosis leads to painful urination during menstruation.

Can it be a sign of any other serious disease like endometriosis?

Yes, ladies! Painful urination during menstruation can indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI can be the result of a bacterial infection. It can also be due to inflammation of the urinary tract. Besides painful urination, other symptoms of UTI include: 

• Fever and fatigue
• Cramping or vaginal irritation
• Foul-smelling urine or frequent urination
• Painful intercourse
• Pain in lower abdomen or pelvis

Not just UTI, you may also experience pain when urinating if you have acquired a sexually transmitted infection (STI). STI can also cause symptoms such as: 

• An unusual discharge from the vagina
• Pain when you pee
• Warts and blisters around genitals
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• Itching
• Burning

“It is essential to pay attention to these symptoms, take them seriously and just visit the doctor and seek appropriate treatment before the condition worsens further. Neglecting it is a strict no-no,” advises Dr Thamke. 

When to see a doctor for dysuria?

“The red flags are discharge from the vagina, blood in the urine, cloudy urine, foul-smelling urine, fever, pain while urination and inflammation, pain that is seen more than a week, and pain in the back. So, be vigilant of these symptoms. And seek timely treatment. Also, if you have any doubts regarding anything then it is just advisable to get them cleared by the doctor,” recommends Dr Thamke.