Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

A number of conditions can cause painful urination, also called dysuria. In women, urinary tract infections are a common cause. In men, urethritis and certain prostate conditions often cause painful urination.

Medical conditions and other factors that can cause painful urination include:

  1. Bladder stones
  2. Cervicitis
  3. Chlamydia trachomatis
  4. Cystitis (which is inflammation of the bladder)
  5. Genital herpes
  6. Gonorrhea
  7. Having a recent urinary tract procedure done, including any that used urologic tools for testing or treatment
  8. Interstitial cystitis
  9. Kidney infection
  10. Kidney stones
  11. Medicines, such as those used in cancer treatment, that can irritate the bladder as a side effect
  12. Prostatitis
  13. Reactive arthritis
  14. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
  15. Soaps, perfumes and other personal care products
  16. Urethral stricture
  17. Urethritis (infection of the urethra)
  18. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  19. Vaginitis
  20. Yeast infection (vaginal)

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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July 14, 2026

See also

  4. Bacterial vaginosis
  5. Bladder cancer
  6. Bladder cancer FAQs
  7. Bladder stones
  8. Cervicitis
  9. Chlamydia trachomatis
  10. Endometriosis
  11. Endometriosis FAQs
  12. Epididymitis
  13. Glowing Cancer Surgery
  14. Gonorrhea
  15. Kidney infection
  16. Kidney stones
  17. Metastatic (stage 4) prostate cancer
  18. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  19. Preventing Kidney Stones
  20. Prostatitis
  21. Prostatitis: Can sexual activity make it worse?
  22. Reactive arthritis
  23. Recurrent prostate infection: What are the treatment options?
  24. Robotic bladder surgery
  25. Sex during vaginal infection: Is it harmful?
  26. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms
  27. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
  28. STD testing: What's right for you?
  29. Trichomoniasis
  30. Vaginal atrophy
  31. Vaginal cancer
  32. Vaginitis
  33. What is bladder cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  34. What is endometriosis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  35. Yeast infection during pregnancy: Over-the-counter treatment OK?