Some Basics...

• Pain with passing urine is never normal.
• Urination pain can be felt in the opening where urine leaves the body or in the genital area. This pain can also sometimes be felt in the lower stomach, pelvis, and sides of the lower back.
• Urination pain may be caused by an infection or other problem. Testing is needed.

Causes

• Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD): These can cause painful urination. 
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): These are the most common cause of urination pain.
• Vaginitis: This is a term that means “vaginal inflammation.” Women who have this sometimes have mild pain with urination. The main symptom is a new or not normal discharge from the vagina. It may happen from chemical irritation. This may be from too much douching or over-use of yeast medicines. It may also have an infectious cause, like an STD or yeast.  

Other Symptoms

Women with urination pain may also have other symptoms. These may be:

• Dark, cloudy, or bad smelling urine
• Fevers
• Pain with sex
• Genital area rash
• Urgent need to urinate (waking up at night)
• Passing urine more or less often than normal

Pain Scale

• None: No pain. Pain score is 0 on a scale of 0 to 10.
• Mild: The pain does not keep you from work, school, or other normal activities. Pain score is 1-3 on a scale of 0 to 10.
• Moderate: The pain keeps you from working or going to school. It wakes you up from sleep. Pain score is 4-7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
• Severe: The pain is very bad. It may be worse than any pain you have had before. It keeps you from doing any normal activities. Pain score is 8-10 on a scale of 0 to 10.

1. What You Should Know:
   • Urination pain may be caused by an infection or other problem. Testing is needed.
   • There are things you can do at home to help the pain.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Fluids:
   • Drink extra fluids. Drink 8-10 glasses of liquids a day.
   • This will water-down your urine and make it less painful to pass.
3. Warm Sitz Baths:
   • Sit in a warm Sitz bath for 20 minutes. This will help to clean the area and help pain go away.
   • To make a Sitz bath, add 2 oz. of table salt or baking soda to a bathtub of water.
4. Antibiotic Drugs: If you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), you may need antibiotics. See your doctor if you think you have a UTI.

1. Cranberry Juice:  
   • Some people think that drinking this juice may help fight UTIs. There has been no good research proving this.
   • Cranberry Juice Cocktail: You should drink 8 oz. (240 ml) 2 times a day.
   • 100% Cranberry Juice: You should drink 1 oz. (30 ml) 2 times a day.
   • Caution: Do not drink more than 16 oz. (480 ml) of cranberry juice cocktail per day. Too much of it can bother your bladder. This will not treat a UTI. You should see your doctor if you have a UTI.
2. Urinate Often:
   • If you feel the need to urinate, you should go to the bathroom. Do not try to hold it until later.
   • Go to the bathroom before and after sex.
3. Call Your Doctor If:
   • You get worse