5 Hydroxy Indole Acetic Acid (HIAA) (24 Hour Urine) Tips

For most lucky souls, urination is more of a relief than anything else. But for some, penis pain might pop up while urinating and that can easily ruin a guy's day. Besides making him quite hesitant to heed the call of nature, a man might even start doing other things to avoid the pain, such as drinking less water, which can be tough on the body. It's important to figure out where the penis pain is coming from in order to ensure the best possible penis care and overall health - and of course, to make that awful pain go away!

Where is the penis pain coming from?

Sometimes penis pain can be quite diffuse, meaning that it occurs all over the penis and the surrounding area. Other times it can be quite sharp and targeted, such as coming from the tip of the penis during urination. Here are a few of the most common reasons men might suffer from pain during urination.

1) Urinary tract infections. These infections of the urinary tract can cause pain anywhere in the penis, but it might be especially severe right at the tip. These are very common infections that occur when bacteria somehow makes its way up the urethra. One of the most common signs of a urinary tract infection is the constant urge to urinate, even if only a few drops come out each time - and even those few drops can cause a painful burning sensation. Antibiotics can take care of this within a matter of days.

2) Kidney stones. The pain of kidney stones often begins in the lower back, but it might suddenly present anywhere along the penis and midsection. Kidney stones are especially painful when passing through the penis and out the urethra; some of them are too big to pass, and that means they wind up blocking urine. That's an emergency situation. The pain of kidney stones is usually enough to send a man to the doctor rather quickly. The good news is that a variety of treatment options are available.

3) Sexually transmitted diseases. Some sexually transmitted diseases cause serious penis pain, including pain upon urination. The worst culprits are chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes. Though there are often other signs, such as redness, bumps and discharge, in some cases it's simply penis pain that won't go away and either appears during urination or gets worse as a man tries to pass urine. The only way to know for sure what is going on is to visit a doctor and get tested.

4) Prostate issues. A man who suffers from prostate issues, especially an enlarged prostate, might also suffer from urination problems. The pain is usually diffuse, throughout the entire urinary tract, and can often lead to slow urination that makes the problem even worse. The good news is that there are many options for men with prostate problems, and most of them will result in a good outcome that ends the penis pain and gets a guy back to a normal life.

A man can take steps to keep his penis as healthy as possible, whether he has penis pain during urination or not. One of those steps is using a high-quality penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) on a daily basis. A man should look for alpha lipoic acid, which helps fight against free radicals, as well as vitamin A, which is known for fighting infections. Shea butter and vitamin E can also help ease the penis that has suffered pain or medical issues by keeping the skin smooth, supple and well-moisturized.

In case you have a concern or query regarding sexual health ask a doctor online, you can consult the best sexologist doctor online, & get the answers to your questions.

Our kidneys help in filtering waste and extra water from the blood through urination in the form of urea which is stored in the bladder. A healthy urinary system can hold up to around two cups of urine for 2-5 hours. On a normal routine, one urinates 4-8 times a day but urinating more than that and very frequently might indicate a health issue or just increased liquid consumption or overactive bladder syndrome. When there are other things like fever, stomach ache, vomiting, bloody or foggy urine, fatigue, pain while urinating, etc., with the need for frequent urination, then one might be suffering from urinary tract infection.

There can be many other causes for frequent urination: a diabetic patient may find a need to urinate frequently, during pregnancy, an enlarged prostate, discomfort or infection in bladder and pelvic part (interstitial cystitis), medications for high blood pressure, neurological problems. Some of the rare causes of frequent urination could be bladder cancer, bladder impairment, or radiation therapy.

If anyone finds these symptoms together with an urge to urinate frequently than usual, they should consult a doctor as it could be something big or can hinder their daily lives. One can go through certain medical examinations and tests to know the real cause of the problem as it could be serious. One should also inform the doctor if they find something unusual in their urination process.

Ease the Pain of Urinating

Any infection in the bladder or the urinary function can lead to painful urination. One can have various ways to ease the pain depending upon the reason for the frequent and painful urination.

● Antibiotics for treating urinary tract infection and prostate

● Hot baths or hot water bag ● Prostatic massages

● Medications ● Increase liquid intake to dilute the urine

● Avoiding chemical products near the genitals

Soothe the Bladder

One’s bladder can have many problems if not taken care properly. It is not always important that a serious health issue is the reason of the bladder dysfunction, but usually, it is because of the medications one is consuming or the unhealthy lifestyle. One can soothe the bladder by including a few things in their daily lives.

● Bladder training for overactive bladder syndrome;

● Strengthening pelvic floor through pelvic floor exercises known as Kegels, vaginal weights, and biofeedback;

● Retaining a healthy body weight;

● Terminate smoking;

● Lead an active lifestyle;

● Minimize constipation;

● Eating healthy food;

● Avoiding spicy food;

● Take medications prescribed by the doctor depending upon the reason of the infected bladder;

● Reduce or better terminate the intake of caffeine and alcohol;

● Increase the intake of water and liquids.

Take Away

Urination helps clean our blood and body from waste and extra fluids. But, if the need to urinate becomes unusual or one is having issues while urinating, then it is a matter of concern as it can affect the overall health and routine of the person. One should maintain and take care of bladder through simple ways of changing the lifestyle but should consult a doctor before taking decisions about medications.

What is Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial Vaginosis is an infection that occurs in and around the female genitalia. It does not usually pose a major health threat and is a mild infection that can be controlled and cured with timely medical intervention. Although it is believed to be sexually transmitted, it can also affect women who are not sexually active.

Bacterial Vaginosis can however, be dangerous for women who are pregnant and are near to their delivery date. It can cause severe uterine infection and increases the chance of miscarriage.

In some cases, pelvic surgeries, which include caesarean, hysterectomy, abortion or other abdominal surgery, bacterial vaginosis can be contracted during the surgical procedure. This can further complicate the condition of the patient.

Bacterial Vaginosis is a common complaint among women who have physically reached the child bearing age and symptoms of this physical problem can become prominent at any time of the menstrual cycle.

Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis

1. Unhygienic washrooms

2. Dirty, unwashed underwear

3. Multiple sexual partners

4. Change in the vaginal pH, causing the reduction in the protective acidic secretion that prevents the growth of other harmful bacteria

5. It can also arise from the placement of Intrauterine device (IUD), a contraceptive device placed to prevent the eggs released by the ovaries, from reaching the uterus.

Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis

1. The most common sign of bacterial vaginosis is a foul smelling vaginal discharge.

2. The discharge increases after sexual activities.

3. Discomfort during urination

4. In some rare cases, there is itching and dryness

5. In most cases, bacterial vaginosis does not reveal too many symptoms and does not even cause intense irritation.

Treatment

1. Bacterial Vaginosis can be treated with antibiotics that are generally to be continued for a course of 7 days.

2. Symptoms and discomfort of bacterial vaginosis generally recede within 2-3 days. However, it is recommended that the medicine should not be stopped even after the symptoms disappear.

3. Only in rare cases, certain antibiotics may lead to a vaginal yeast infection. In case of redness, inflammation, irritation and undesirable discharge, you must seek medical attention immediately.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Urinary incontinence is characterized by lack of control over the bladder so that urine involuntarily leaks out. This leakage can happen when pressure is put on the bladder through actions like sneezing, laughing, coughing or lifting a heavy object. Urinary incontinence is common in people who are overweight, in pregnant women or women who have given birth recently, in people with urinary tract infections, cystitis and in older individuals.

Symptoms

Urinary incontinence is most commonly of 4 types and symptoms of each are different:

1. Stress incontinence – Urine leaks out when there is a sudden pressure on the lower abdomen such as in coughing, sneezing, and heavy lifting.
2. Urge incontinence - Urine leaks out as soon as the urge for urinating is felt.
3. Overflow incontinence – Urine continuously leaks out due to the bladder being overfilled. Often people experiencing this type of incontinence may strain to empty their bladder or do not feel the need to urinate.
4. Functional incontinence – Urine leaks out before the person is able to reach the bathroom because of some physical disability such as arthritis.

Causes

The causes of urinary incontinence depend on if incontinence is temporary or persistent.

Temporary incontinence:

• Diuretics like alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee and tea
• Artificial sweeteners and chocolate
• Carbonated drinks
• Vitamin C in large doses
• Medicines for high blood pressure and sedatives
• Very spicy or acidic foods
• Persistent incontinence

Infections of the urinary or genital tract-

1. In women, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and hysterectomy
2. In men, an enlarged prostate
3. Neurological disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s disease
4. Tumors in the urinary tract or bladder that can block urine flow
5. Obesity
6. Age

Role of Homeopathy-

Urinary incontinence can be effectively treated with homeopathy which takes into account not only the physical symptoms of the disease but also the patient’s mental and emotional state, overall health, reactions to environmental conditions like heat and cold and food habits. Medicines like Cantharis and Sulphur 30c can be very effective for straining to urinate and pain during urination, whereas medicines like Causticum and Ipecac are useful for controlling leakage of urine while walking, sneezing or coughing. The medications prescribed are all naturally derived, which guarantees treatment without any side effects. Homeopathy not only treats the external symptoms of incontinence but also helps resolve the underlying problems and hence provide a permanent solution to this disorder. Homeopathic remedies can thus offer a natural and safe option for treating urinary incontinence that can save people from a potentially embarrassing situation without any side effects.

Burning urination or painful urination is also called dysuria, and it is one of the most common complaints amongst women. Another common problem is frequent urination. What are the causes of these two conditions? Are they in fact related? 

Frequent urination, in simple terms, is also sometimes called overactive bladder and it is the need to urinate more than you normally would. This can cause loss of bladder control too. You may feel extremely full even after using the toilet and the feeling is extremely uncomfortable. Medical practitioners bracket urinating every two hours or more as frequent urination.

Some of the underlying causes are

1. A urinary tract infection or UTI is the most common cause of frequent urination. UTIs happen when bacteria enters your urinary bladder through the urethra. Men also get UTIs, but it is less common than women as the ladies have shorter urethras. This means that bacteria have less distance to travel before they can infect the urinary tract causing UTIs. UTIs in women can be prevented by proper wiping after using the toilet, which will protect the urethra from E.coli bacteria. Proper hygiene also is a deterrent, especially after intercourse.
2. Medical conditions affecting muscles, nerves, and tissues. Weakening of nerves due to hernias in the lower back etc. can also cause an overactive bladder.
3. Oestrogen deficiency caused due to menopause can cause an overactive bladder and a woman finds it difficult to hold the urine for long.
4. Obesity can also place extra pressure on the bladder.

Burning sensation while urinating 

Common reasons behind it

1. Frequent urination does not point to any gynaecological issues but burning urination is a common symptom of sexually transmitted diseases or STDs like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea which cause symptoms like pain when urinating and vaginal discharge. Burning urination usually occurs after intercourse when sexually transmitted infections are present.
2. Burning while urination can also be caused due to UTIs and it is often accompanied by other symptoms of UTIs like painful urination or dysuria or blood in the urine.
3. Kidney stones are solid masses of crystalized calcium or other materials that start in the kidneys but can pass through the urinary tract causing pain and discomfort.
4. Urethral stricture is a condition when the urethra narrows and this causes burning and pain during urination in women.
5. Urethritis is the inflammation of the urethra in women can cause burning on urination.
6. Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the reproductive organs in women and causes abdominal pain especially during urination or sex.
7. Bladder cancer
8. Vulvovaginitis is a common infection of the vulva and vagina, both, and it causes burning and itching while urinating and increased vaginal discharge.

Blood in urine, medically known as Hematuria is not usually a cause of concern, but it can translate into an adverse condition if left unevaluated. The kidneys and other structures in the urinary tracts such as urethra (tube connecting the bladder to the outer part of the body); bladder (that stores the urine) and ureters (tube joining the bladder to the kidney) are the sources of blood flow to the urine.

Hematuria can be accompanied by symptoms such as discharge of tea-colored, brownish-red or pink colored urine due to the presence of red blood cells, traces of which can only be detected under the microscope.

Underlying causes behind this disorder might be

1. Urinary tract infections is where the bacteria enter the body through the urethra and begin to proliferate in the bladder.
2. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) is when bacteria infiltrate into the kidneys from the bloodstream or travel up from the uterus to the kidneys.
3. A kidney or a bladder stone is marked by the minerals in the concentrated urine precipitating out and molding into crystals that deposit on the bladder or kidney walls.
4. Enlarged prostate is a condition in which the prostate gland, that is situated just below the bladder surrounding the upper part of the urethra, starts growing as males head towards their middle age.
5. Kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis causes swelling of the kidneys, thus disrupting the filtering system.
6. Bladder, kidney and prostate cancer are also possible causes.
7. Hereditary disorders such as sickle cell anemia (a hereditary disease of the red blood cells in the hemoglobin) can also pose as a cause behind this disorder.
8. Kidney injury as a result of heavy blows, accidents or injuries sustained while playing a spot can also contribute to this condition.
9. Medications such as penicillin or the anti-cancer drug ‘cyclophosphamide’
10. Strenuous physical exercises like intense workout or running may also result in Hematuria.

Treatments
There is no fixed cure for Hematuria; instead the doctor would work on treating the repressed conditions behind the symptoms, such as prescribing antibiotics to heal the urinary tract infection or a medicine to shrink and normalize the enlarged prostate or administer a shock wave therapy to destroy the kidney or bladder stones.

Blood in urine, medically known as Hematuria is not usually a cause of concern, but it can translate into an adverse condition if left unevaluated. The kidneys and other structures in the urinary tracts such as urethra (tube connecting the bladder to the outer part of the body); bladder (that stores the urine) and ureters (tube joining the bladder to the kidney) are the sources of blood flow to the urine. Hematuria can be accompanied by symptoms such as discharge of tea-colored, brownish-red or pink colored urine due to the presence of red blood cells, traces of which can only be detected under the microscope.

Underlying causes behind this disorder might be :

1. Urinary tract infections is where the bacteria enter the body through the urethra and begin to proliferate in the bladder.
2. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) is when bacteria infiltrate into the kidneys from the bloodstream or travel up from the uterus to the kidneys.
3. A kidney or a bladder stone is marked by the minerals in the concentrated urine precipitating out and molding into crystals that deposit on the bladder or kidney walls.
4. Enlarged prostate is a condition in which the prostate gland, that is situated just below the bladder surrounding the upper part of the urethra, starts growing as males head towards their middle age.
5. Kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis causes swelling of the kidneys, thus disrupting the filtering system.
6. Bladder, kidney and prostate cancer are also possible causes.
7. Hereditary disorders such as sickle cell anemia (a hereditary disease of the red blood cells in the hemoglobin) can also pose as a cause behind this disorder.
8. Kidney injury as a result of heavy blows, accidents or injuries sustained while playing a spot can also contribute to this condition.
9. Medications such as penicillin or the anti-cancer drug ‘cyclophosphamide’
10. Strenuous physical exercises like intense workout or running may also result in Hematuria.

Treatments

There is no fixed cure for Hematuria; instead the doctor would work on treating the repressed conditions behind the symptoms, such as prescribing antibiotics to heal the urinary tract infection or a medicine to shrink and normalize the enlarged prostate or administer a shock wave therapy to destroy the kidney or bladder stones.

Blood in urine, medically known as Hematuria is not usually a cause of concern, but it can translate into an adverse condition if left unevaluated. The kidneys and other structures in the urinary tracts such as urethra (tube connecting the bladder to the outer part of the body); bladder (that stores the urine) and ureters (tube joining the bladder to the kidney) are the sources of blood flow to the urine. Hematuria can be accompanied by symptoms such as discharge of tea-colored, brownish-red or pink colored urine due to the presence of red blood cells, traces of which can only be detected under the microscope.

Underlying causes behind this disorder might be

1. Urinary tract infections is where the bacteria enter the body through the urethra and begin to proliferate in the bladder.
2. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) is when bacteria infiltrate into the kidneys from the bloodstream or travel up from the uterus to the kidneys.
3. A kidney or a bladder stone is marked by the minerals in the concentrated urine precipitating out and molding into crystals that deposit on the bladder or kidney walls.
4. Enlarged prostate is a condition in which the prostate gland, that is situated just below the bladder surrounding the upper part of the urethra, starts growing as males head towards their middle age.
5. Kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis causes swelling of the kidneys, thus disrupting the filtering system.
6. Bladder, kidney and prostate cancer are also possible causes.
7. Hereditary disorders such as sickle cell anemia (a hereditary disease of the red blood cells in the hemoglobin) can also pose as a cause behind this disorder.
8. Kidney injury as a result of heavy blows, accidents or injuries sustained while playing a spot can also contribute to this condition.
9. Medications such as penicillin or the anti-cancer drug ‘cyclophosphamide’
10. Strenuous physical exercises like intense workout or running may also result in Hematuria.

Treatments
There is no fixed cure for Hematuria; instead the doctor would work on treating the repressed conditions behind the symptoms, such as prescribing antibiotics to heal the urinary tract infection or a medicine to shrink and normalize the enlarged prostate or administer a shock wave therapy to destroy the kidney or bladder stones. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor and ask a free question.

Urine is the body’s way of removing toxins from the bloodstream. This should be a painless procedure but many people complain of a painful urination. This pain could stem from issues with the urethra, bladder or perineum. It may be caused by a number of factors.

These include:

1. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): UTI could be caused by an inflammation of the urethra or bacterial infection. In either case, painful urination is one of the first signs that can be identified. Women have a higher risk of UTIs as they have a shorter urethra as compared to men. This allows bacteria to travel through the urethra easily to reach the bladder.
2. Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI): A sexually transmitted infection such as gonorrhea, genital herpes or chlamydia could also cause painful urination. These diseases may not have other visible symptoms and hence it is important to get yourself checked out by a doctor. Simple sexual practices such as engaging in safe sex and abstaining from sexual intercourse with multiple partners can help prevent STIs.
3. Prostatitis: This is a condition in which the prostate gland gets inflamed. This affects only men and is a common cause of painful urination and a stinging sensation while passing urine.
4. Cystitis: Cystitis can be described as an inflammation of the lining of the bladder. It can make a person want to urinate more frequently, cause urinary incontinence and painful urination. One of the types of cystitis is Interstitial cystitis (IC).
5. Kidney Stones: Mineral deposits in the kidneys are known as kidney stones. The size of these stones can range from a few mm to be as big as the size of a golf ball, in an irregular shape. The larger the kidney stone, the more painful it will be. Small kidney stones may be passed out of the body along with urine while surgical intervention may be required for larger kidney stones.
6. Urethral Stricture: This is a condition where the urethra is narrowed by the development of scar tissue around it. It may be the result of previous surgery, trauma to the abdomen, cancer, radiation, etc. as the urethra is narrowed, the amount of urine that can pass through it is reduced thereby causing pain and difficulty urinating.
7. Allergy: An allergic reaction to soaps, lotions, creams and other such personal hygiene products used in the genital area can also contribute to painful urination. Sometimes the dyes in laundry and detergents can also cause irritation in your private parts.

Many people are embarrassed to talk about their urine colour or urine problem with anybody, including their doctor. But, what people always forget is that strong smelling urine and the change in the colour of the urine is a serious issue. Your urine colour directly tells you about your health, especially your inner body. So, without being embarrassed you should consult a doctor, if and when, you find foul odour in your urine. Following are some of the reasons for the causes of strong smelling urine.

1. You are dehydrated: Urine is not supposed to leave odour. It should be odourless, but if you find strong smell in your urine, you should consult a doctor immediately. The most common reason of foul odour in your urine is dehydration. If the amount of water needed in your body is not enough then, there will be less water in your body as a result the waste products will not be diluted in water being more concentrated making the urine darker and more odour. But once you start drinking water, it should go normal. Normally, this kind of situations occur in early morning when your water intake is less or not at all. But drinking lot of water will solve this issue immediately.
2. More alcohol or caffeine intake: If you are habituated to drink a lot of coffee then it may happen that you find strong smell of coffee in your urine. Although it is not very problematic yet it is healthy if you reduce the intake of coffee in your daily life in order to have a healthy digestive system. Not just coffee but even alcohol could be the reason of irregular or need to urinate a lot more than usual.
3. Bacterial Infection: There could be bacterial infection or kidney infection which could lead to strong smell of urine. In order to ensure you should go to a doctor and get important tests done. Then the doctor can suggest treatment according to your results and if all the results are normal then you could be suggested to maintain a balanced diet on regular basis.
4. Imbalanced Diet: The problem can sometimes come from the use of certain vitamins from imbalances in your diet. There are substances like nitrates and phosphates in the urine which can give dark colour and odour. You should always have a proper diet and follow it in order to have a healthy digestive system. Eating lot of garlic and onion can also bring odour in your urine.
5. Diabetes: If you are diabetic, it may be possible that you find dark urine and odour in your urine. It indicates that your sugar level is not normal and gone much high than normal. If you are not diabetic then it may be a sign of diabetes so you should get diagnosed immediately with your doctor.

There are multiple causes of strong smelling urine but most of them could be cured easily if diagnosed immediately. But in order to avoid this issue it is better to be careful with your diet and drink a lot of water. At least three litres of water a day is an absolute necessity!