Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff
Painful urination in women is often caused by urinary tract infections. In men, it's frequently caused by urethritis and prostate problems. Other common causes of painful urination include sexually transmitted infections, genital herpes, bladder and kidney stones, and soaps, perfumes, and other personal care products that irritate.

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

  1. Bladder stones
  2. Cervicitis
  3. Chlamydia trachomatis
  4. Cystitis (irritation 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 (also called pyelonephritis)
  10. Kidney stones (Hard buildups of minerals and salt that form inside the kidneys.)
  11. Medicines, such as those used in cancer treatment, that can irritate the bladder as a side effect
  12. Prostatitis (Infection or inflammation of the prostate.)
  13. Reactive arthritis
  14. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
  15. Soaps, perfumes and other personal care products
  16. Urethral stricture (narrowing of the urethra)
  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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Oct. 11, 2023

See also

  1. Bacterial vaginosis
  2. Bladder cancer
  3. What is bladder cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  4. Bladder cancer FAQs
  5. Bladder cancer treatment options
  6. Bladder stones
  7. Cervicitis
  8. Chlamydia trachomatis
  9. Endometriosis
  10. What is endometriosis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  11. Endometriosis FAQs
  12. Epididymitis
  13. Glowing Cancer Surgery
  14. Gonorrhea
  15. Kidney infection
  16. Kidney stones
  17. New immunotherapy approved for metastatic bladder cancer
  18. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  19. Preventing Kidney Stones
  20. Prostatitis
  21. Prostatitis and sex
  22. Reactive arthritis
  23. Recurrent prostate infection
  24. Robotic bladder surgery
  25. Scientists propose a breast cancer drug for some bladder cancer patients
  26. Sex during vaginal infection: Is it harmful?
  27. STD symptoms
  28. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
  29. Stage 4 prostate cancer
  30. STD testing
  31. Trichomoniasis
  32. Vaginal atrophy
  33. Vaginal cancer
  34. Vaginitis
  35. Yeast infection during pregnancy