Urethral Pain With No Infection

I am a woman and I've had urethra burning on and off for the last few years and have never had a UTI. The pain and urgency to go would come on out of no where and would persist through urination and for several hours after (usually not going away until after a night's sleep). My GYN suggested that it may be related to caffeine intake, so I cut out soda, but that didn't help entirely. I've since done a bit of experimenting with my diet and I have found that, for me at least, it tends to be more related to how much sugar I have in a day, not the amount of caffeine. If I have a lot of sugar in my diet for a few days, the pain tends to be really bad, but as long as I don't have excess amounts of sugar (lots of pop or candy), then I'm pretty much fine.

Also, making sure to use the bathroom after having sexual intercourse is a good way to prevent UTIs/urethra pain.

Hope this helps someone!

I am a woman and I've had urethra burning on and off for the last few years and have never had a UTI. The pain and urgency to go would come on out of no where and would persist through urination and for several hours after (usually not going away until after a night's sleep). My GYN suggested that it may be related to caffeine intake, so I cut out soda, but that didn't help entirely. I've since done a bit of experimenting with my diet and I have found that, for me at least, it tends to be more related to how much sugar I have in a day, not the amount of caffeine. If I have a lot of sugar in my diet for a few days, the pain tends to be really bad, but as long as I don't have excess amounts of sugar (lots of pop or candy), then I'm pretty much fine.

Also, making sure to use the bathroom after having sexual intercourse is a good way to prevent UTIs/urethra pain.

Hope this helps someone!

I've had the same issue for a few weeks. I went in for a severe UTI in mid July. I'm on my second round of antibiotics. The doctor said that there is still a bit of infection but the spasms are almost unbearable. I'm getting worried and stressed. I just pray that this gets better, especially considering my husband and I are wanting to have a baby.

I don't know if it is physically likely, but mine seems to be linked with my cystocele. When my bladder is low, it seems to pull back on the urethra. (a see-saw effect) It's just my theory, and I was hoping someone had a similar story.

hi everyone, i am so stressed, i have had for a while now what i thought was cystitis, a pain at the end of a wee, then a terrible uncomfortable aching feeling in the urethra for about half hour or until the bladder fills up again, it seems like a sexual urge, but a painful one, sex is out of the question, it hurts too much when the bladder is knocked, i dread going to the toilet, if i go when i dont need it its so painful, ive kind of lost the feeling when i need a wee, unless im desprate, ive drank cranberry juice, loads of water, and it does help but its a long time before the pain goes a bit better, i have bloating in my stomach aswell, ive been to the doctors hes gave me antibiotics for water infections but as ive taken so many i think these stopped working, and then when i was tested recently there was no infection, so i paniced even more wanting to no why i was in so much pain, now my doc has tested me for sti`s and all clear, so hes treated me for pelvic inflammerty disease, after the course, i felt a bit better, then after sex with my boyfriend(unprotected) i get it straight back! so my life is being ruined by this please help!!! im back on 2 courses of antibiotics now for pelvic inflammertry disease i hope this cures it!!

Hi, just had my venogram done yesterday for ongoing pelvic pain. Found out I have pelvic congestion, "nutcracker syndrome" and a main vein that should push blood up from pelvic region back to the heart that has no valve in it to stop blood from flowing back down into pelvic area. Surgery will be soon I hope to put a stent in left ovary/kidney vein to keep it open (look up nutcracker syndrome), and some kind of embolization process to close up bad veins and force blood to find another route around the areas and back to the heart. Venogram wasn't so bad, just wish I had more sedation-I was up talking to the Doc and watching the video the whole time. Doc says the surgery is close to the same process, but a lot more pain the first few days affter while blood is forced to find new routes around the pelvic area - don't look forward to that, but the pain I've endured the past 7 1/2 months is unbearable. Hope this helps. If you're not getting any answers from your docs, tell them to look for nutcracker syndrome or pelvic congestion (from a CT scan) - or look up Dr. John White in Niles, IL out of Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. Good Luck all.

my actual urethra (what you see from the outside) is not what hurts, its the tube leading to the urethra from the bladder, or so it seems. same story..... no infections, bladder looked swollen inside when urologist did cystoscopy but he had no idea why and refused to give me pain or anti-spasmodic medication. he did a biopsy - came back negative. I feel relief after urinating, but ten minutes later when the smallest amount of urine begins to accumulate again in the bladder it appears to be gathering in the urethra tube that connects the bladder to the urethra. i can see the bulge between my pubic area and below my abdominal area, swelling and its painful until I urinate. then i feel better. urinating up to 38 times a day because i cannot wait until the bladder gets full. doesnt seem to be staying in the bladder but instead dropping into the urethra. no leakage though and I actually have to push to get it out. Absolutely no leaking at all. hard to get the urine flow started at all because there is so little of it when the pain sets in. - - Is this similar to anyone elses symptoms? I have been suffering for 15 years. almost feels like your being tortured, it gets to you mentally, cannot sleep, cannot go anywhere that it not near a restroom. Any thoughts? I also had an MRI and x-ray done, they found nothing. this is why they wont give me any kind of treatment for the pain, I dont think they believe me. help!! you guys that are using tea tree oil, where are you putting it and are your symptoms like mine? I need something anti-spasmodic. Thank You in advance

I have had 1 and a half years of misery. In February 2009 I developed a bad case of cystitis - we were snowed in so I tried to treat it myself with sachets from the pharmacy.......a week later though it came back so I was prescribed a course of anti-biotics - Trimethoprim. A week following this, it still felt like I had a UTI so the doctors gave me yet more Trimethoprim but this time, I had a really bad reaction not unlike chickenpox.

Nothing seemed to shift the pain and urgency to urinate - I was drinking tonnes of water and people advised me to take cranberry juice and barley water. I have since found out that cranberry juice is terrible for UTI's as the high sugar content feeds the bacteria!! If you want to try cranberry, it's only a prevention not a cure and it would be best to stick to the cranberry extract in tablet form to avoid the sugar.

I have lost count how many times I took time off work to go to the doctors but I was eventually referred to a consultant at the hospital. A million different appointments and tests later, after a failed Urodynamics tests (they found my urethra too mall to catheterise - maybe due to swelling or something in the way - a lump or cyst perhaps?), I was put forward for a Cystoscopy under general anaesthetic. I had to wait 6 months for this on the UK NHS - the deadline for the appointment passed so I had to chase constantly. When I eventually went for the op. they dilated my urethra and all they found was that my bladder was "inflamed". 3 months later and I'm still waiting for my follow up appointment to discuss their findings.

Since the Cystoscopy, I have to say my symptoms got worse. In July 2010, I had another bad UTI which lasted 2 weeks and quite frustratingly ruined my holiday with family for my birthday which was meant to be my escape from all the health misery. Went to see lots of doctorss who were absolutely shocking and no help at all. Was given more anti-biotics - this time Macrodantin which again was fine the first time but the second time, I had a terrible reaction to them - they affected my lungs, I had fever and vomiting. I was then given Cefalexin..........during my holiday of misery, after the Cefalexin ran out, I was still massively in pain. I couldn't eat as this made it worse and I lost half a stone of weight in a week. I was also getting migraines all the time. The pain was both in my bladder and particularly my urethra - I stopped walking as exercise because this made it worse, I stopped eating spicy food, tomatoes and citrus fruit and the pain following these foods was horrendous. Alcohol in form of spirits seemed to actually make things better which is strange - I stuck to things like brandy and lemonade..... wine was occasionally OK but dicey. Beer was usually out of the question.

It was at this point I decided to do tonnes of research since UK doctors didn't have a clue and no sympathy what-so-ever and decided to go down the herbal medicine route. It was the only way I could feel less helpless.......

I have come to the conclusion that I either have a mild case of IC (I don't want to insult people that get it really bad by saying that's what I have - I do think I only have it mild compared to some) or the cycle of bladder infections and anti-biotics have completely stripped my bladder of all it's natural defences and left it raw thus making it more prone to yet more bladder infections. I need to rebuild (and maybe you do too...?) the mucous lining in my bladder and rebuild it's defences.

In July, I began taking the following:

Marshmallow Root tea - tastes and smells gross but works at soothing and coating the bladder lining/urethra. I found the best way to drink it is to add boiling water, leave it to cool completely, strain it and drink cold (quickly!)

Uva Ursi tincture - mine includes eccinecea and a couple of other bit and bobs but I actually do think this helped clear up my last cystitis infection when anti-biotics failed - I don't think you're meant to take this for very long as they Uva ursi berry is toxic and xan damage the liver - I take it when I feel that the pain is more like a bladder infection or when I need an extra boost

Gokshura & Shatavari - I currently take 2 tablets 3 times a day and will continue with them for just 2 months as they advise. I wouldn't take these together with the uva ursi as they both are diuretics.

Bovine Colostrum - I have been taking these for about a month now and they are apparently better in capsule form - it's meant to be a good immune system booster (contains "good stuff" from calves first milk)..... I'll keep this up for a few months I think - hopefully they'll help rebuild my bladder lining as they're also meant to have healing qualities - none of this is proven though but I am trying anything!!!

Potters Antitis (UK name?) - I have only jut got these yesterday - I wouldn't take them at the same time along with the other diuretics mentioned above again, I think I will start taking these when the Gokshura treatment has ended but they have tonnes of great herb specific to urinary issues and are meant to be a Godsend when you have a UTI.

I've heard liquorice is good for healing the bladder so I have some of this tea on order to try and I also have Floradix Horsetail Organic Herbal Tea (may support the urinary system) and Fsc Gotu Kola Extract Tincture (meant to aid healing - this is another one to be wary of though a it's another which if you take too much, you can damage your liver)

I'm also currently taking cranberry tablets to attempt to ward off new infections and multivits with probiotics.

I also bought a self-help book - The Encyclopaedia of Cystitis, Sexual Cystitis and IC - I can't remember the exact title or author but she has some very good tips - the first aid tips involving bicarbonate of soda for when you have cystitis is particularly good. I'm trying to keep up with the "bottle washing" and it seems to be working - the bottle washing after sex is particularly good as it really does stop the burning sensation.

This may all sound crazy and excessive but for those who are truly suffering, you'll try anything!! I know how much these things can destroy your life!! I was depressed and stressed and although my partner has been very supportive, cracks were beginning to show after such as long time of being ill!!

I am amazed, delighted and excited to say that for the last 3 days, for the first time since my Cystoscopy, I have had long periods in a day where I have very little pain at all!! Is this the end of misery??????? I will not be seeking anti-biotics to treat any recurring infections unless there's blood in my urine or back-ache. I will stick to gentle herbal methods in future to avoid damaging things further.

I would definitely recommend doing plenty of research - be sensible with herbs and make sure you check out all the warnings before taking anything. Be particularly careful when taking lots of these things together as most herbs go by different names and could therefore be in several different treatments - I'm not a doctor but I'm sure that overdosing on these things would not be good!!!!!!

I am hoping that this is the start of my recovery!! Can't believe I barely have any pain today!!!!! :-D

Wow, that sure seems like you've done a lot of research. Read my prior posts about my constant urethral pain since January, 2010. I'm ready for surgery for my pelvic congestion syndrome and nutcracker syndrome, just waiting for my insurance to ok it first. I also have been active in a journal on a med help forum - to find it, try going to triple w dot then med help (all one word) and then a dot org. I can't type web addresses on here, they'll get erased. Once on the site, type in the search box nutcracker syndrome, and at the bottom you'll see 1 user journal by a girl called lymeball. See if you can find any helpful info. there - on her journal, I am lucylu38 with a picture of a puppy black lab.

Sorry to hear about your situation, I know how frustrating it is to be in such pain and no doctor can figure it out. Hang in there, hopefully your self remedies will help. Even pain relief for a few hours seems like a miracle.

Good Luck. Hope to hear back from you here or on the med help dot org site.

I had the same problem after my hysterectomy. My family dr. sent me to a urinologist where he put me on a medicine to help relax my bladder and he also said that I had a small amount of infection that was probably from where they had my stent in for surgery. With those two medications, I am glad to say that I only have issues once in a while.

I believe it is a hormonal imbalance causing all of these things. As the one person said, adjusting her b.c. pill helped. I have most doctors are ignorant about the extent to which hormone deficiencies and imbalances can cause on the rest of the health, and unless you have a good hormone doctor, you go on suffering.

I am only 40 but have had to be on bioidentical hormone replacement for a couple years for deficiencies. Recently my levels needed to be adjusted and in order to figure out which thing was causing libido problems for me, I took myself off the estrogen. About a month later, I started having the urethral pain and symptoms of kidney or UTI problems everyone talks about on here, but also some tingling of hands and feet, but all the blood work came back normal.

The only thing different was now my progesterone was now at a higher ratio to my estrogen than what it had been before, before we messed with my doses. I suspected hormonal imbalance as I had heard they can play a big role in both urethral and bladder health as well as nerve health.

As an experiment, I stopped the progesterone and after a few days my symptoms improved. I added estrogen back without the progesterone, and after just one day, a lot of my urethral pain subsided as did my nerve tingling in hands and feet.

Regardless of whether you are at menopausal age, every woman can have hormonal imbalances where the ratio of progesterone to estrogen is not right in your body.Also, synthetic hormones are very bad for the body and can have negative effects as well. I will be changing to an even better hormone expert doctor than the one who originally prescribed the bioidentical hormones, to get me at the right levels, but if I were all of you, I'd look into hormone levels before spending a ton of money on loads of tests to rule out big bad diseases.......I wasted a lot of money and time in the ER!!

Thanks gypsywoman - the evening following when I wrote my original post about not being in pain, I went back to being in tonnes of pain. It was my own fault - I went out and had a couple of drinks. Silly girl :0( .......... Since then it's been pretty bad - everything burns and stings.

Funny you should mention hormones..... I do think I have some kind of hormonal imbalance - I get really bad skin unless I take evening primrose oil and quite often get lumps in my under-arms. I stopped taking the mini pill a week ago as I've been on this for a while now without periods...... I'm interested to see what happens and will keep you posted.

I've stopped taking the Pukka herb tablets as they seem useless now - no improvements and very expensive...... I've cut out alcohol completely and am determined to keep it that way until at least Christmas.... I've also now cut out all tea including decaf as I've read that even this can be an irritant because of the tannin. For a Yorkshire lass this is terrible :0).

Fingers crossed - Joe, your situation sounds interesting.... I will mention it to my Urologist when I see him ..... unfortunately, my appointment was cancelled until October.

To IT HURTS DOWN THERE - I'll check out your info. thank you.

Hi: My surgery is scheduled for October 5th to put a stent in my left renal vein where it is getting compressed by the arteries that lay over it and under it (crushing it like a nutcracker - hence nutcracker syndrome) Docs will also coil or embolize many of the pelvic veins that are like varicose veins (stretched out and engorged with too much blood). I'm praying this relieves most, if not all, of my pain; it's been 9 straight months now, can't wait for some relief. Hang in there all, I think about you every day.

Hi Again:

Had my surgery this morning - went well according to docs. Doc put a stent in my left renal vein to hold it open, coiled and embolized several pelvic varicose veins, and completely sealed up my left gonadal vein. My groin area where they went in feels better than it did after the venogram. Most of the pain I have now is lower back pain - I'm not sure if it's from laying flat for 2 hours after the procedure or if it's from the blood trying to find it's way to open veins. Overall though I feel pretty good. I'm just praying that this solves the pelvic pain problem. The doc said that he would have liked to do the procedure in 2 steps - the first to coil the varicose veins and the 2nd to put the stent in - I'm glad he decided to agree with me to do both at the same time - the less time in the hospital the better. The doc said that tomorrow would probably be my worst day, so I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. I'll keep them up for you, too.

have a great week,
Lori D.

Suffered with the burning, frequency and urgency for more years than I can count. I tried just about everything only to have someone suggest that I stop drinking diet soda. So I did and guess what? It stopped. Once someone bought me a diet soda and I drank it (against my better judgement) and sure enough I had some burning. I can't believe after dealing with this nightmare for all those years, diet soda was the cause.

I also had some temporary success with a low Oxylate diet and taking Calcium Citrate supplements.