Burning sensation while urinating urge to urinate frequently spotting or discharge could all be signs of urinary tract infection (UTI) or in some cases sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Since the early signs of infection are similar in both UTI and STD how do you identify the actual problem you are going through? Causes of Urinary Tract Infections A urinary tract infection is caused by the E Coli a bacteria present in feces. These bacteria when transferred from the rectal area to your genital area can pass to the bladder and lead to an infection. Causes of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually