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stds that cause frequent urination

By: Karen Terry

December 7, 2021

Four STDs That Cause Frequent Urination

What STD causes frequent urination? When you urinate with more frequency—without an increase in urine—you may want to seek out a professional for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment. While your problem may not always be an STD, you should not ignore any condition that causes you to urinate with more urgency. 

We’ve outlined each STD that causes frequent urination so you can be proactive about your sexual health and get tested the moment you notice a problem. STDs that cause frequent urination can be severe, so for same-day STD testing, find a clinic near you immediately.

Why Does Frequent Urination Occur?

Many problems can result in frequent urination, whether you have kidney disease or drink too much water. Likewise, a urinary tract infection (UTI), although not sexually transmitted, can occur at an increased rate in response to sexual activity or having new sexual partners. 

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are STDs that most consistently cause frequent urination. Additionally, the two are among the most common STDs in the U.S., making them a likely enough cause of frequent urination in many cases. 

Half of the battle involves learning about which STD causes frequent urination so you can act the moment you realize something is off. Regardless, other disorders, such as Diabetes Types 1 and 2, cause frequent urination. Sometimes, drinking too much water or caffeine throughout the day can cause persistent urination, so examine your habits and keep them in mind when you visit a doctor about your problem.

Which STDs Cause Frequent Urination?

Is frequent urination a sign of STD? While most STDs do not have this side effect, this symptom should prompt you to get immediate STD testing, as it’s characteristic of the following four STDs.

Chlamydia

Frequent urination is a main symptom of chlamydia, an STD caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. Many people who contract chlamydia exhibit no symptoms, making it difficult to spot. Nonetheless, frequent, painful urination is a telltale sign that should make you alert. 

Unlike a UTI, chlamydia often involves discharge from the penis or vagina, pain during sex, and bleeding between periods. Likewise, be sure to pay attention to anal discharge or bleeding, less common effects. 

Reach out to a health care provider like Rapid STD Testing for a 10-panel STD test the moment you spot these symptoms, as chlamydia, while capable of causing infertility in men and women, is highly treatable with antibiotics.

Gonorrhea

Of the STDs that cause frequent urination, gonorrhea is among the most common. Just like chlamydia, gonorrhea is a very treatable STD. Driven by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, this STD is treatable with antibiotics. While often asymptomatic, gonorrhea can cause: 

  • Pain during urination
  • Genital discharge (white, yellow, or green)
  • Pain during sex
  • Bleeding in between periods
  • Rectal pain and discharge
  • Painful or swollen testicles 

Like chlamydia, gonorrhea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease if untreated. While all STDs are severe, make sure to get tested immediately as soon as you suspect you may have contracted gonorrhea. 

Most women who contract gonorrhea do not exhibit symptoms. Even when mild symptoms occur, you may mistake them for a bladder or vaginal infection. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing severe health complications from the disease, even if asymptomatic.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis, also known as trich, makes you “pee” a lot, distinguishing it from some of the other STDs and UTI issues that increase the frequency of your bathroom visits without an increase of urine produced. 

As with previous examples, an infected person may not always exhibit symptoms. Trich can cause dysuria and scrotal pain in men. Women may experience an odorous vaginal discharge and painful urination, although frequent urination is not always the case with women. 

Take any of these symptoms seriously and as indicators that you should visit the doctor or a testing center near you. According to the CDC, we are in an STD epidemic impacting women, infants, and gay and bisexual men most severely. Take caution in any instance, but especially if you or a loved one is in one of those categories.

Herpes

While most people are familiar with herpes and its primary symptoms, one of its symptoms is also frequent urination. Herpes is widespread; the CDC estimates that around 572,000 new people contract genital herpes each year. This number may be even higher, as an increasing number of infections are due to HSV-1, or Herpes Type 1. 

HSV-2 (Herpes Type 2) infections appear more commonly among women than men since the transmission of the genital infection more often occurs from men to women during penile-vaginal sex. 

Many herpes carriers may not realize they’re living with the STD, as herpes can present as very asymptomatic. While uncommon, pay attention to the following symptoms: 

  • Painful urination due to urethritis
  • Inflammation of the urethra
  • More frequent bathroom visits
  • Visible warts around the mouth or genitals 

Like chlamydia and gonorrhea, herpes, in rare instances, is an STD that causes diarrhea. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with these symptoms and be alert to promote your long-term sexual health.

Is Frequent Urination Always a Sign of an STD?

An urgent need to urinate does not always indicate the presence of an STD. Both men and women can develop UTIs, which occur when bacteria infect any part of your urinary tract. Likewise, a host of other medical conditions can cause you to urinate in larger quantities or with more frequency, including: 

  • Enlarged prostate
  • Kidney problems
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Overactive bladder syndrome
  • Diabetes Type 1 and 2
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Nocturia
  • Pelvic tumor
  • Vaginitis 

If you have been drinking more caffeine or alcohol lately, cut back and see how that affects the number of bathroom trips you make each day. If you wake up frequently to urinate during the night, augment the amount of water you drink before bed (or cut out drinking water right before bed entirely). 

If these problems persist after adjusting your water, caffeine, and alcohol intake, consider speaking to a doctor to get at the root cause. Regardless of the reason, frequent urination should prompt you to contact a doctor or visit a testing center immediately. Many of the causes, STD or not, can cause lasting damage to your genitals or urinary tract if not addressed swiftly. 

While not always easy to spot, a prolapsed bladder will also increase the need to urinate. This and other conditions mentioned above need immediate treatment to prevent long-term damage. 

Many people find talking with their doctor about frequent urination embarrassing; however, it’s a conversation that you need to have when you notice an issue so that you can receive an accurate diagnosis before your symptoms worsen.

When Should You See a Doctor Because of Frequent Urination?

Whenever you notice frequent urination, contact a doctor immediately. Whether you’re dealing with a UTI or an STD, frequent urination is a symptom of something larger at play. Additionally, when untreated, frequent urination can lead to more significant problems in your urethra, bladder, or other parts of your urinary tract. Luckily, you can treat many STDs that cause frequent urination and other issues like UTIs before significant damage occurs. 

Sometimes, people produce more urine due to water pills (diuretics), increased fluid intake, or diabetes. If you notice increased thirst, irritability, and fatigue, contact your doctor immediately about diabetes. If you have tested negative for any of these issues in the past, you may have an STD that causes frequent urination. 

You should look out for a few other signs besides urination frequency and amount, including: 

  • A change in the color of your urine
  • Difficulty starting urination
  • A weak stream while urinating
  • Incontinence
  • Night sweats
  • Pain during, before, or after urination
  • A burning sensation accompanying urination
  • Sudden weight loss 

If you notice these signs, reach out to a doctor within a day or two. For the following more pressing issues, contact a doctor immediately: 

  • Blood in urine
  • Discharge from the penis or vagina
  • Fever
  • Shaking chills
  • Side or back pain
  • Vomiting 

Weakness in your legs means you should go to the emergency room immediately, as this can indicate a spinal disorder. 

If you experience any of these issues in a non-emergency setting, keep a running log of your symptoms leading up to your doctor’s appointment, including how often you use the bathroom each day and how much you urinate during each release. These logs can be invaluable in helping your doctor pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and helping you get on the path to recovery quicker. 

To learn more about STD symptoms and options for testing, reach out to a testing clinic near you or contact your primary care physician. If you suspect you may have contracted an STD, it’s important to stop being sexually active and to inform your partners of your suspicions so they can take tests as well. 

STDs that cause frequent urination can often go without notice as people ignore the symptoms. Pay attention to your urine production in conjunction with other signs of these STDs so that you can react promptly as soon as a discrepancy arises.

Don’t Wait: Get STD Testing When You Notice an Issue

If you need a rapid STD test in the United States, call us at (866) 872-1888 or search our Rapid STD Testing site using your zip code to find a testing center near you.

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By: Karen Terry
December 7, 2021

With a profound passion for making intricate medical information accessible to all, John possesses a unique ability to simplify complex concepts without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Armed with a comprehensive understanding of various healthcare fields, John is well-versed in the latest research and advancements. However, what truly sets him apart is his remarkable talent for distilling this wealth of knowledge into engaging, reader-friendly content.