What Are the Treatments for Painful & Frequent Urination?

Painful and frequent urination may be a sign that you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney stones or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). While there are at-home remedies for a UTI, STIs and kidney stones require medical attention. If your condition worsens after trying UTI home remedies, visit your physician promptly to determine why you're experiencing discomfort and pain and to receive proper treatment.

Urinary Tract Infection

• UTIs, also known as bladder infections, are caused by gastrointestinal bacteria entering the urinary tract. According to the Mayo Clinic, women are susceptible to bladder infections due to the urethra's close proximity to the anus. According to the editors of "Prevention Magazine," cranberry is a popular at-home remedy for bladder infections. Cranberry juice blocks bacteria from attaching to cells in the urinary tract, which allows your body to quickly dispose of the bacteria. Drink 8 oz. of cranberry juice every four hours until symptoms subside. If symptoms persist or worsen, visit your physician for antibiotic treatment.

Kidney Stones

• According to the Mayo Clinic, the kidneys remove minerals by creating urine and sometimes those minerals develop into hard deposits. These deposits grow larger over time and can be painful when passing through your urinary tract. The best treatment for kidney stones is drinking 2 to 3 qt. of water and stay physically active to help pass the stones. You can also take ibuprofen or Tylenol to relieve the pain associated with a stone passing. If your stones are too large to pass through your urinary tract, your doctor may use extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy to break down the stones. This treatment involves sending shock waves to the kidney stones, causing them to break apart and pass through. Before shock treatment, you take a sedative due to the pain from the therapy.

Sexually Transmitted Infection

• Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two common sexually transmitted infections that cause painful and frequent urination. Other symptoms of gonorrhea include yellowish green or clear discharge. Your doctor will prescribe the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin, and if you are pregnant or under 18, he will administer an injection of Ceftriaxone. If given pills, you should finish your prescription then get retested to guarantee the infection is gone. Notify all sexual partners of your STI so they can get tested and treated.