A 40-year-old woman complains of frequent, painful urination and lower abdominal pain for the past two days. She denies vaginal discharge or fever.
This presentation could be suggestive of a urinary tract infection (UTI), but it could also be consistent with other conditions like interstitial cystitis, a sexually transmitted infection, or even a gynecologic condition like pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. Further information is needed, including a urinalysis, urine culture, and potentially additional tests based on her sexual and gynecological history.