Urethra burning, no uti!

[Andreamaria18]

Hi, I am a 26 old and I have a burning feeling in the urethra for about 4 months now. Everything start with a uti that was trated with antibiotics and went away. A week later I start to have frequency and a disconfort/ burning feeling in the urethra but is constant NOT when I pee. Actually it does not burn at all when peeing. This symptoms went away in a week without doing anything but came back a month later and since then it didn t improve anymore. Is like I feel something is irritated inside there and thats what causes the frequency. I don t feel anything in the bladder and during the night it calms down and comes back in the morning after first pee. I had std test (including ureaplasma and mycroplasma), urine culture, vaginal scan, kidney and bladder scan and everything is fine. Urologist told me I could have overactive bladder, I didn t belived that but I try the treatment anyway, it didn help me at all. I tried 4 different types of antibiotics and no improvment at all. I don t have any pain when having sex just a little disconfort because of frequency. I don t know what else to do as I don t know exactly the cause. If anybody has something similar I would appreciate any advice. Sorry for the long post, just wanted to share the whole story. Thank you for reading!

I'm worse with bending too - bathing the kids, feeding the cats etc.

I did post some suggestions above on this mentioning embedded UTIs and also lack of estrogen being the cause. If the latter Vagifem (the vaginas pessary) can work well in stopping the burning feeling but has to be taken long term. If it is stopped the burning feeling will most likely return. Sometimes it needs to be taken more than x2 a week after the 2 week loading dose - it can be taken quite safely up to x5 a week.

There’s some more info here starting at 13.20 - www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&feature=youtu.be&v=zIRSrIJ4Azo

Thanks for replying! Thank-you so much for your info. I discovered a few days ago, mine is down the dryness. I didn't think it could be as it came on suddenly and wasn't related to sex. My burning "down there" (but high up internally) was present constantly and affecting everyday life like merely walking. Dr prescribed Replens long lasting moisturuser and the relief and comfort has been huge. Dr also said topical estrogen would be the next treatment if this doesn't work, but so far this over the counter moisturuser has been very good. Phew. If only I knew a month ago, I could've not suffered.

My discomfort, not as bad as burning, is more around the opening of the urethra. I am wondering about trying Replens but it would seem odd if you have to insert that into the vagina when it is more of an external urethra problem. Not sure if this would help me?

Replens do an external one too. And the internal one can be used outside too (I always put a bit there too) it's really amazingly soothing.

Replens tends to be the HCP’s preferred option. However if the dryness is due to lack of estrogen which is causing thinning/irritation of the skin then you might find that it can become more sensitive to some products - those containing more additives. Replens works for many, but can also irritate some. There are other options like the YES products, 3 in particular - OB (oil based), VM (vaginal moisturiser) and WB (water based). All can be used internally as well as externally. Olive and Bee is another. Availability depends where you live in the world.

Ultimately if the symptoms are down to vaginal atrophy (proper name is urogenital syndrome of menopause aka GSM) then the most effective thing that will help is replacing the estrogen which will help plump up the tissues. It’s all connected to collagen production.

To ghacker0, for soreness at the urethral entrance, estriol cream can help (smaller tube is called a Ovestin). Some like to mix it with a bit of YES OB. If you have some Sudocreme in the house try that. Also try inserting the vagifem halfway down and towards the front. I find this more effective in filtering through to the urethra.

For anyone who might be approaching menopause, dryness and bladder irritation can start before any other symptoms, even while still having periods. For some women these might be the only ones they have rather than the more obvious hot flushes.

Thanks that's all so helpful. And yes, I'm 41 and still having periods as normal so anything menopause related wasn't on my radar at all.
Just thought cystitis/UTI. But urogenital syndrome fits all my symptoms to a tee.

Keep an eye on it. Your GP seems informed at least if he’s said local estrogen is the next step. In the U.K. we have NICE Menopause Guidelines which include for vaginal atrophy. It’s assumed that menopause will start from around 45 and if earlier blood tests can be done. However hormone levels fluctuate wildly during the early years.

The last thing you want is to be taking repeat courses of antibiotic which kill the good along with the bad and can upset the PH balance even more.

Some women use this for internal dryness as a precursor or alongside local estrogen www.superdrug.com/Health/Women%27s-Intimate-Health-Care/Vaginal-Dryness-Treatment/Balance-Activ-Moisture-Gel/p/784432?gclid=Cj0KCQjwv7L6BRDxARIsAGj-34pcCAfzDobfD3WNQbcR0fXHMYcyAQi0K9O3uMiMTjkKWrggtAs-6XEaAhydEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#pdp__details
(The moisture plus one, not the one for BV)

It’ll be a reaction to something in your environment. Here’s what works for me - non bio washing liquid, baby unscented fabric conditioner, wash with simple soap. Wash all your underwear in the non-bio, dirty and clean, for a fresh start. Vaginal wash has a better ph and if the simple isn’t working, try that. Then slowly reintroduce your old stuff. For me it’s a blue dye of some sort that sets me off. Or possibly a “sea minerals” scent. Which is a shame as it’s a lovely smell!

Hi
I am new to Mumsnet only just found you as I was googling my symptoms. I have had vulvadynia since I was 15 I am now 57. Throughout my life I have had to learn how to manage every flare up in different parts of my vulval area. At the moment I am going through a bad time with urethral pain apparently due to menopause, so I am on vagifem as I have to be very careful with creams.
I do have two children so there is hope! My symptoms improved so much after managing to conceive (believe me it took a long time and I have a very understanding man). So at this point I had hoped it would disappear but no, I am still suffering. Any advice about soreness in that area (urethra) would be greatly appreciated. Also I am involved with the VPS (Vulval Pain Society) a marvellous group of folk including doctors who have researched in the spare time they get to help women with vulval pain. Please do have a look for them they are so helpful. They suggested that I try Vagifem, I have been on it for just over a week but I am still sore as the day goes on it gets worse going to the loo etc. Glad to know that I am not alone, when I was in my teens and twenties I was told it was in my mind, I was in a bad way. It helps to read other stories and share about this as it is so difficult to live with.

@Andreamaria18, I'm the same age as you and I have exactly the same symptoms. I'm due to see a urologist soon but I'm so scared that this isn't going to go away. Have you had any luck getting to the bottom of this?

Hi, unfortunetly no. Still have the same symptoms, maybe less intense. Is been 2 years now, 8 types of antibiotics, including 21 days of doxy and moxifloxacin, lots of natural medicine,supplements...I am testing negative for a couple of months but dosen t help me. Gave up doctors, they can t help me if tests are good...so sorry you are going thru this, hope we will heal one day..

I am sure I had ureaplasma in the first place based on symptoms and other woman stories but because I already took antibiotics test came back negative. There are lots of ladies with the same story, is so sad in this age we have to suffer like this. I did test after 2 months and 4 months since my last antibiotic and everything is negative..

Have you tried topical oestrogen, @Andreamaria18? This urogynae recommends it’s put at the urethral opening :

twitter.com/jfitzgeraldmd/status/1415837133269606409?s=21

@Andreamaria18, how frustrating. Are you under a urologist? What is a ureaplasma test? I'm sure I've probably had this as I've had every test under the sun.

@SparklingLime thanks for this. Everything is worth a go I suppose.

Yes, @olivialucy, such a helpful explanation from that urogynae. Including that she uses oestrogen for all ages, for UTIs and irritation that feels like a UTI.

I tries estrogen cream for a week in the past but I gave up because it made my symptoms worse. Apparently you should use it for at least 4 months to see any results...Ureaplasma is a bacteria know to cause symptoms like ours, there is a facebook group about this where lots of womens have same problem. They had from the start, got treated, tested negative and they feel the same. Please get tested or ask your doctor about it and change the doctor if he says this is not a big deal. I am not going to any doctor at the moment, I did had a cytoscopy performed by an urologist and nothing apart from some inflamation at the bottom of the bladder ( this is normal for my symtoms) came up. Doctors look at me like I am a weirdo and ask stupid question like you drink enough water?..if I am not dying or have cancer they don't really give their best...and after trying so many treatments is not like they can give me something new...

I’m going to suggest something random and possibly one youve considered but treat for threadworms. They could be the cause.

See also
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5652050/

@Andreamaria18 you probably have but have you tried Dmannose? I have but it didn't touch it. I might need to take it for longer but I would rather ask my urologist about this as I'm not sure how long you're meant to take it for.

Do your symptoms get worse after drinking or better? Mine go if I drink lots of water but come back when I wee so it's a vicious cycle. Elderflower cordial seems to help for some strange reason and I swear that's how I got rid of one particular flare-up in the past.

I tried treatment for worms and also d-mannose but thank you anyway for trying to help! Tried so many thing that I can t remember all but this is just a few: cryptolesis tincture, oregano oil, lods of vitamin c, biofim defense, coloidal silver, turmeric, some kind of tea and sitz bath, treatment for trush, bv and overactive bladder even if my tests were all ok. This is apart from so many antibiotics...my symtoms are some days ok and some days really bad, no matter what I eat, drink, if I am on my period or not. I could not discover in 2 years what triggers my symptoms. I can sleep all night with no problem, when I wake up everything seems fine until I pee. What I did not tried is something for nerve pain. Some people are saying that you can be left with nerve damage after an infection and certain drugs can help with that. Because there is no test to confirm this I am a bit afraid to try it...

Hi'
I honestly really feel for you. Just a few things to try to help. I have had a condition called vulvodynia all my life I am now 57 the condition affected every part of my vulva including my urethra from my twenties it seemed to start hurting there especially leading up to a period. I was given vaginal hrt to try in my twenties and it did help. I have been made aware that low oestrogen can cause urethral burning and soreness, in my case chronic pain. At the moment after experiencing terrible urethral burning and pain I have been on vagifem vaginal pessaries and also I have gone onto hrt gel and progesterone. I know you are a lot younger than me but I wanted to tell you what seems to have worked for me as I empathise with you and the symptoms you have explained.

@Andreamaria18 where did you get tested for ureaplasma was it in the uk?

I had a lot of persistent pain following a UTi and two things really helped me - topical oestrogen, as many PP have mentioned, but also pelvic floor physiotherapy. If the pelvic floor is tight, it can cause/continue UTI-symptoms. I hope everyone here can find some relief in some way

@VioletRose81 I used the website the sti clinic, is like 100 for ureaplasma and mycoplasma. I first asked at my gp but of course they knew nothing about it...

an old threat but following! Am suffering the same…