Urination Pain

This Care Guide Covers:

Discomfort (pain, burning, or stinging) when passing urine
May include urgency (can't wait) and frequency (passing small amounts) of urination

If not, see these topics

When to Call Your Doctor

	Call 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If
	Very weak (can't stand) You think you have a life-threatening emergency
	Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
	You feel weak or very sick Severe pain Cannot pass urine (or only a few drops) and bladder feels very full Fever of 100.5°F (38.1°C) or higher Shaking chills Side (flank) or back pain Stomach pain Pain or swelling in scrotum Have diabetes Have a weak immune system (HIV positive, cancer chemo, long-term steroid use, splenectomy) Are bedridden (nursing home patient, stroke, chronic illness, or recovering from surgery) Had a transplant (liver, heart, lung, kidney)
	Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
	Blood in urine Pus (white, yellow) from end of penis All other men with urination pain

Causes & Health Information

Some Basics...

Urination pain can be felt in the opening where urine leaves the body or in the genital area.
Pain with passing urine is never normal. All men with urination pain should be seen by a doctor.
Urination pain may be caused by an infection or other problem. Testing is needed.

Causes

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD): These can also cause urination pain. Most men with an STD will have a discharge from the penis. It will be clear-white or yellow in color. The two main STDs that can cause this are gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): These are the most common cause of urination pain. They include bladder infections and prostatitis.
In younger men, it is more likely that an STD is causing their pain. In older men, a bladder or prostate infection is more likely.

Other Symptoms

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

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.

CARE ADVICE FOR PAINFUL URINATION (While Waiting to Talk to Your Doctor)

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.
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.
Warm Sitz Bath: Sit in a warm Sitz bath for 20 minutes. This will help 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.
Antibiotic Drugs: If you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), you may need antibiotics. STDs may also need to be treated with these drugs. See your doctor if you think you have a UTI or STD.
Call Your Doctor If:
- You get worse

Remember! Call your doctor if any of the "When to Call" symptoms occur.

Urination Pain - Male
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