Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Constant urethral burning and pain

Last June I made the mistake and had unprotected sex with a female.  I showed no signs or symptoms of an STD.  In the beginning of August of 09', I had the onset of what I thought to be an STD.  I had constant burning in my urethra,constant feeling of having to urinate but would normally only have a small amount of dribble.  There was pain with urination and even when not voiding all through my penis and to this day this is the pain I still experience.  I went to my family doctor who prescribed Biaxin I believe for Chlymidia.  I was on this for two weeks and the pain subsided for a couple of weeks.  

I then began to feel the same pain minus the urge to constantly urinate.  I was put back on the Biaxin for two more weeks, this time however the pain continued through the medication.  This did nothing as well.  I was then tested for chlymidia, herpes, gon, and hiv.  All came back negative.  I was tested for chlymida three times over three months and all tests were neg.  HIV was done 6 months after the unprotected sex.  

I was then sent to a urologist who did no exams and diagnosed me based on my description of pain with prostatitis.  He put me on two more weeks of cipro which I did notice a slight decrease in pain, but once again after I was off the medication I continued with the urethral burning.

I went to a second urologist, did a cys scope and prostate exam, all normal except for the irritation I have had at the opening of my urethra all along.  3 months of cipro and still experiencing this urethral pain.  I should note that as a child I had a hypospadias surg as a infant if important.  Im beyond frusteration and worrying, any help is appreciated.

18 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I've had the same problem 2. When I first started I had painful urination that would last for an hour. I went to the doctor had to see another doctor because my normal doctor was on vacation. She didn't seem to know what she was doing or saying. I told her the symptoms and immediately said I had gonneria. I got a urine test then got swabbed afterwards. came out negative.  was given 1 gm of Azithromycin and a shot of something with an R that would of taken care of it if it was an STD while waiting for the results. it came back negative and symptoms came again, saw another doctor they did urine test and said there was some blood in the urine but they never sent the urine to the lab. I was given Cipro at that time.So during that time I came in contact with my current girlfriend I started to have a drip. That time I went to see my normal doctor got swabbed and came out positive for clymedia. Ever since I've been different felt like something was still left behind lingering. I got doxycycline for 2 weeks. but after that was over I still had a discharge. got tested again negative. Didnt get any meds. I went to another doctor explained everything got tested negative again. Gave me cipro. for the discharge. discharge was gone while taking the pills but then came back right after. Got tested again few months later came out with a urinary infection said if I was a woman wouldn't have prescribed anything, Prescribed me Bactrium, but those pills were like a gram each. I had a hard time swallowing them because they were so dry they would get stuck swolling> i used to cut them in half. Not sure if that caused me to have an allergic reaction. But my chest looked like I got sunburned. I went to the doctor and was given steriods to clear it up. said I was allergic to Sulfa. I kept on making excuses to get seen for a stomach pain or something. Was tired of going in saying I had some urinary infection. Last time doctor gave me doxycycline it went away for a bit, but around that time I had my wisdom tooth taken out and was given amoxcillian  to prevent infection that finally took care of the symptoms.Then after that had an encounter with my ex and symptoms came again. So now I am sure if I go to the doctor most likely tests will be negative. Right now I don't have insurance. I
I narrowed down where it comes from is my ex and the solution that works for me is amoxcillian or augmentin. was symptom free for 6 months and had an encounter with my ex and back again with no drip but now  I have bladder pain or prostate pain.

Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
It looks like the doctor is on vacation.

I have similar symptoms. This may be chronic prostatitis. While many experts (including the doctors on the STD forum) would say that there's no evidence linking STD's (including bacteria that cause NGU's) to prostatitis, other online sources would argue that STD's could possibly be a cause of bacterial prostatitis. The only way to know whether you have bacterial or non-bacterial prostatitis is to examine the prostatic fluid after a prostate massage to see if any bacteria is present. There's a test called the Stamey-Meares four-glass test that you can ask your urologist to do (http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000515/3015.html). Urine analysis and urine culture are pretty much useless for diagnosing prostatitis as I am sure you already know. None of these tests will detect any bacteria.

I also heard that Levaquin may be a better antibiotic for treating bacterial prostatitits - but to be honest, if after 3 months of Cipro you haven't seen any improvement, then you may have chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, which is very common among men, and many just learn to live with the symptoms. In severe cases, some patients would do the TURP procedure or remove the prostate altogether. But in your case, it seems that you have a mild case that can be really annoying at times - exactly I am going through right now. For me, I have a feeling that anxiety/stress is what triggered this whole thing. Here's a great web page with stories about what worked for patients (http://www.prostatitis.org/itworksforme.html).

Good luck and I hope we both get better.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Burning when Urinate was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Bulbar Urethral Stricture was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, NGU help ? was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You need to ask, no better yet. Tell your urologist  that you want him to order a pcr test for mycoplasma genitalium, mycoplasma hominis, and ureaplasma urilyctium. This test won't be covered by your medical but it may be worth the $100-$200 to know what's causing this...

Trust me
I'm at the same point and am willing to pay it so I know how to treat whatever this is.

If it comes back negative then you know it's your prostate and atleast it'll give your urologist a better angle at all this...

Labcorp.com sells them
I believe but a urologist may have to place the request for one
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have not got the issue solved yet, I have been doing as my recent urologist suggested and just give this time to see if it resolves.  Well as I expected nothing has happened, I have started taking Keflex for acne but as expected it has not helped at all.  I am really at a loss of what else to do.  I have told the urologist that this pain is real and it is primarily associated with my urethra and the opening.  I have no pain in my pelvic area, I never have.  He keeps telling me that it could be referred pain however from the prostate.  I have no idea what a KUB is but at 25 do you think cancer or stones are possible?  At this point Im willing to explore any other possibilities.  I am to the point where a THIRD opinion from a urologist may be needed.  It is making me lose alot of faith in the medical system.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Not sure if you received any medical help but you may want to try to get a KUB or CT scan. You seem to have symptoms of kidney stones. The ct scan my shed some light on tumors, cancer, stones, or any other problems. Hope this helps.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Mycoplasma and ureaplasmas are bacterias thst aren't tested for in standard STD testingand are found to be the cause of persistent NGU and usually require large doses and a long term prescription as they can be difficult to eradicate if they aren't caught early enough.

Mycoplasma and ureaplasma tests aren't usually covered my health plans amd can cost several hundreds of dollars to order but would give you an idea of what antibiotics would be most effective...

I am planning on talking to my doctor soon, I'm just finishing up a 10 day course of cipro (flouraquinalone antibiotic) and the pains I have associated with my bacterial infection seem to be improving so based on that observation and without having been tested for ureaplasma or mycoplasma I'd say it's a mycoplasma infection.... But a test is the only certain way to know :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No I have not what are those tests for exactly?  Did you get your situation resolved somehow?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Seems like what I have. I was diagnosed with NGU and negative for chlamydia and gonorrhea. I will take azithromycin and it'll help clear things up for a week an half but then a discharge
comes back... Have you guys tried asking
your urologist for a possible mycoplasma or ureoplasma test? Apparently they can only do those
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well interestingly enough, my partner had a pap smear done this past week.  All std tests came back negative, however, they told her she does have a bladder infection.  They did not elaborate much about it other than told her to drink a lot of water to help clear it up.  No meds were prescribed and no advice as far as intercourse was given.  Does this sound like something I may be looking at as far as my symptoms?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A examination of my prostatic fluid is one thing that has not been done yet.  I was frustrated that last time I went to my uro and all he had to say was, it will get better in time.  But now that it has been a year dealing with this I feel like I need to have that done to examine the fluid to determine if any bacteria are present, possibly a strain that is resistant to the cipro?  I would have loved to stay on the levaquin but the cost was outrageous.  The only real antibiotic that ever seemed to work was the bactrim and I cant find the difference between that and the cipro as far as what they treat?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Haven't recieved an answer yet either mate. I complained and got an answer that they would look into the problem 'probably within a week'.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Has a doctor answered anyone else's on here or am I the only one that don't receive an answer after I paid over a month ago?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You may have a yeast infection...yes men get them...go to candidafree.net and candidadiet.com.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Would like an answer I paid for this?!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Any help?????
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Urology Forum

Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia provides insight to the most commonly asked question about the transfer of HIV between partners.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.