Dysuria means you feel pain or a burning sensation when you pee (urinate). Men and women of any age can experience dysuria, but it’s more common in women. Urinary tract infections are commonly associated with dysuria. Treatment depends on the cause and ranges from antibiotics and avoiding irritants to treating an underlying medical problem.
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Dysuria is pain or discomfort when you urinate (pee). It burns! Dysuria isn’t about how often you go (urinary frequency), though urinary frequency often happens together with dysuria. Dysuria isn’t a diagnosis. It’s a sign or symptom of an underlying health problem.
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Men and women of any age can experience painful urination. It’s more common in women. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly associated with dysuria. UTIs occur in more women than men.
Other people at a higher risk of dysuria include:
Symptoms of painful urination can vary. But people usually describe it as burning, stinging or itching. Burning is the most commonly reported symptom.
Pain can occur at the start of urination or after urination. Pain at the start of your urination is often a symptom of a urinary tract infection. Pain after your urination can be a sign of a problem with the bladder or prostate. In men, pain can remain in your penis before and after urination, too.
Symptoms in women can be internal or external. Pain outside your vaginal area may be caused by inflammation or irritation of this sensitive skin. Internal pain can be a symptom of a urinary tract infection.
See a healthcare provider if you feel pain or burning when you pee. Dysuria can be a symptom of a medical condition that may need to be treated.
To diagnose your pain, first, your healthcare provider will review your complete medical history, including asking you questions about your current and past medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus or immunodeficiency disorders. He or she may also ask about your sexual history to determine if an STI could be the cause of the pain. Tests to screen for STIs may also be needed, especially if men have a discharge from their penis or women have discharge from their vagina. If you’re a woman of childbearing age, a pregnancy test may be done.
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Your provider will also ask about your current prescriptions and over-the-counter medication use and any tried “home remedies” to manage the dysuria.
Your healthcare provider will also ask you about your current symptoms and obtain a clean catch sample of your urine. Your urine sample will be analyzed for white blood cells, red blood cells or foreign chemicals. The presence of white blood cells tells your provider you have inflammation in your urinary tract. A urine culture reveals if you have a urinary tract infection and if so, the bacteria that are causing it. This information allows your provider to select the antibiotic that will work best in treating the bacteria.
If no sign of infection is found in your urine sample, your healthcare provider may suggest additional tests to look at your bladder or prostate (in men). Your provider may also take a swab sample of the lining of your vagina or the urethra to check for signs of infection (in women).
There are many causes of dysuria. Also know that doctors can’t always identify the cause.
WOMEN: Painful urination for women can be the result of:
The inflammation may also be caused by sexual intercourse, douches, soaps, scented toilet paper, contraceptive sponges or spermicides.
MEN: Painful urination for men may be the result of:
Painful urination for men and women may be the result of a sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or the side effect of medications. Chemotherapy cancer drugs or radiation treatments to the pelvic area may inflame the bladder and cause painful urination.
Treatment for dysuria depends on the cause of the pain/burning sensation. The first step in your treatment is to determine if the painful urination is caused by infection, inflammation, dietary factors, or a problem with your bladder or prostate.
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There are several steps you can take to reduce the discomfort of painful urination, including drinking more water or taking an over-the-counter aid (such as Uristat® or AZO®) to treat painful urination. Other treatments need prescription medications.
If you have frequent urinary tract infections, your provider can help find the cause.
Dysuria is a symptom. It causes a burning sensation, pain and/or discomfort. You’ll likely choose to contact a healthcare provider because this symptom is uncomfortable. It’s important for one to determine if your symptom is related to a urinary tract infection or another medical cause. In any case, the sooner you see a provider, the sooner a diagnosis can be made and treatment can be started.
When you’d rather talk to a telemarketer than answer nature’s call, it’s time to schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. Most of the time, a UTI is the culprit, and antibiotics can help you feel better quickly. But sometimes, dysuria may be a symptom of another condition. The sooner you see a provider, the sooner you can get a diagnosis and find relief.
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If you have a condition that’s affecting your urinary system, you want expert advice. At Cleveland Clinic, we’ll work to create a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Last reviewed on 12/08/2020.
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