Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

A number of conditions can cause painful urination (dysuria). In women, urinary tract infections are a common cause of painful urination. In men, urethritis and certain prostate conditions are frequent causes of painful urination.

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

  1. Bladder stones
  2. Chlamydia trachomatis
  3. Cystitis (bladder inflammation)
  4. Drugs, such as those used in cancer treatment, that have bladder irritation as a side effect
  5. Genital herpes
  6. Gonorrhea
  7. Having a recent urinary tract procedure performed, including use of urologic instruments for testing or treatment
  8. Kidney infection (also called pyelonephritis)
  9. Kidney stones (hard objects that form due to chemicals in urine)
  10. Prostatitis (infection or inflammation of the prostate)
  11. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
  12. Soaps, perfumes and other personal care products
  13. Urethral stricture (narrowing of the urethra)
  14. Urethritis (infection of the urethra)
  15. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  16. Vaginitis
  17. 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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Dec. 03, 2022

See also

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