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Pain after urination
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Pain after urination most often occurs as a consequence of genitourinary diseases, various infections, kidney diseases, it can be caused by chronic and acute prostatitis. Pain after urination occurs in both males and females.
To understand the reason why pain is felt after urination, you need to understand in which part of the urinary system the discomfort occurs. There is moderate pain after urination, sharp pain after urination and burning during urination.
Causes of pain after urination
There are causes of pain after urination that are specific only to women (for example, cystitis, thrush) or only to the stronger sex (prostatitis, phimosis). And there are causes of pain after urination that do not depend on gender (STDs, kidney problems, urethritis).
Pain after urination in men
Causes of pain after urination in men:
- prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate. It is caused by bacteria that have entered the prostate through the urethra. The body always suppresses microorganisms that enter the prostate gland with urine, but in the presence of special conditions (foreign infection, decreased immunity, injuries, stress) it cannot always cope with its task.
- phimosis - this disease is also caused by an infection, due to which the foreskin narrows. Its causes can be microorganisms that penetrate the prepuce, injuries that leave scars, failure to comply with hygiene rules.
Causes of pain after urination in women
- Candidiasis is a common disease caused by a fungal infection, which causes the genitals to become inflamed, irritation and itching are observed, the labia and vaginal walls swell, and thick white vaginal discharge is visible. Men carry the Candida fungus, but they do not show any symptoms. In women, with candidiasis, pain and burning are observed when urinating in women, and also during sex.
- Cystitis is an acute inflammation of the bladder. In women, this disease occurs more often due to the special structure of the genitourinary system. The ureters in women are shorter and wider than in men, so the pathogen penetrates inside more easily. Cystitis is a disease that can be observed more often in girls and pregnant women due to insufficient local immunity or immaturity of the ovaries. A sign of cystitis is the presence of pain after urination in women and a feeling as if urination is incomplete, pain in the lower abdomen.
Pain After Urination: Causes of Pain Common to Men and Women
These diseases, with the presence of pain after urination, are observed in both sexes:
- urolithiasis: stones can form in any part of the genitourinary system, which is what causes pain after urination. When the location of the stones is the bladder, pain occurs after urination or during movement, which can also be felt in the perineum and genital area. Urolithiasis and, accordingly, the pain after urination that occurs because of it, is also characterized by the so-called "stuffing syndrome". This is when the outflow of urine suddenly stops and resumes only if you change your body position. In addition, the patient may feel a periodic desire to urinate, which appears at special moments (shaking, physical exertion, walking).
- urethritis is a disease when the urethra is inflamed. The pain can be constant and only pain after urination. Burning pain after urination is chronic urethritis, sharp and excruciating pain after urination means the disease is acute.
- gonorrhea. Pain after urination is a typical symptom. The lower parts of the rectum and the genitourinary system suffer from the infection. Women are also prone to inflammation of the sex glands with pain and swelling of the labia.
- Chlamydia is one of the sexually transmitted diseases of the urinary tract and reproductive system. Pain after urination is also characteristic of it.
- ureaplasmosis. Caused by ureaplasma infection, which penetrates during sexual intercourse, promotes the development of inflammatory processes of the genitourinary tract. Women feel burning and painful pain after urination, there is a transparent discharge, pain in the lower abdomen. Men complain about sexual life, pain after urination, frequent urges, nervous disorders.
- trichomoniasis. The infection causes cervicitis and colpitis in women, and prostatitis and urethritis in men, which leads to pain after urination.
Localization of pain after urination:
- abdominal pain during and after urination;
- pain in the lower back during and after urination;
- pain in the groin during and after urination;
- pain in the perineum during and after urination;
- pain in the penis during and after urination;
- pain in the head of the penis during and after urination;
- pain in the vagina during and after urination.
Pain after urination in a child
When a child experiences pain after urination, it is most likely due to a genitourinary infection, inflammation of the renal pelvis. Unpleasant urination can be felt by a child as a burning sensation, pain, difficulty urinating. Frequent desire to "go to the toilet" is observed, incontinence is possible during the day and even at night. There may be scanty urine discharge (a few drops), its unpleasant odor.
The causes of pain after urination in a child can also be cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), which is very common in children, this is one of the most common childhood inflammatory diseases. The more severe the inflammatory process in the bladder, the more frequent the urge to urinate and the more severe the pain after urination in the child.
Pain after urination in a child may occur due to urolithiasis, as well as in the presence of a foreign body in the urethra. In case of urolithiasis, small stones, as well as blood and pus, may be present in the urine, the child is prone to acute intense colic in the abdomen. There are common cases when a child inserts a foreign object into the urethra. Then the urethra becomes blocked, urination is difficult, with blood, pain is felt after urination.
When pain after urination in a child is felt in the lumbar region, it may be pelvic reflux. That is, the correct path of urine is disrupted, and from the bladder it gets into the renal pelvis. Usually, there are no difficulties with urination, but pain occurs when urinating in the lower back. There is no pain after urination. After a short period of time, the child again feels the urge, pain is not observed then, but very little urine is left - this is what was left from the last time. It is difficult for a child to determine where exactly he feels pain when urinating, usually he says that in the navel area.
Pain after urination in a boy
Pain during and after urination in a boy can be caused by additional factors. For example, sometimes boys are born with a very narrow urethra or only the opening at the exit is very narrow. In this case, urine comes out in a thin stream or drops, pain occurs after urination. In such situations, as soon as such a problem is discovered, you need to urgently contact a doctor. A decrease in the diameter of the opening of the urethra can also be caused by inflammation of the head of the penis and also lead to pain during and after urination. Inflammation occurs around the opening, outwardly it looks like torn skin.
Pain after urination in girls
Pain after urination in girls is a fairly common occurrence and is usually caused by infectious diseases of the genitourinary tract. Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the reproductive system, infection easily penetrates inside. These can be both quite serious diseases described above, and irritation of the vaginal area. The latter can be caused by: a reaction to hygiene products (soap, shampoo, detergent residues on underwear); poor hygiene of the genitals; wearing underwear that is too tight; wearing a wet bathing suit for a long time; penetration of feces into the urethra due to improper hygiene skills (when feces are wiped incorrectly - from back to front); swimming in a polluted body of water and many others.
Pain after urination during pregnancy
Pain during and after urination during pregnancy occurs due to the enlargement of the maca, which thus presses on the bladder. Urination becomes difficult, urine comes out in a thin and weak stream, the woman is forced to strain and make an effort to empty the bladder. But usually pain during urination does not occur from this. If it does, then this is a pathology. The reasons are the same disorders and diseases as in non-pregnant women (candidiasis, cystitis, etc.). Due to the fact that during pregnancy the bladder is in a cramped position, favorable conditions are created for the occurrence and progression of all kinds of inflammation, so it is especially necessary to avoid hypothermia. When pain after urination is observed in the side or lower back, this may be a signal of damage to the upper part of the genitourinary tract and complications in the kidneys. In such cases, you urgently need to consult a doctor, since such complications adversely affect pregnancy and childbirth.
Symptoms of Pain When Urinating
In order to understand what disease we are dealing with and to know which doctor to contact when you notice pain when urinating, it is important to understand what exactly hurts, where and how. You need to analyze your feelings as much as possible.
Moderate pain, burning, a feeling of heaviness in the pubic area indicate chronic processes. By the way, the intensity of pain during urination does not always characterize how severe the disease is. For example, in the case of prostate cancer, at first it often proceeds without any particularly pronounced symptoms, and the pain is moderate and does not cause any particular discomfort.
When the urethra is affected, the pain is concentrated in the urethra. If there is something wrong with the bladder, pain during urination is observed in the area just above the pubis, in the case of prostate pathologies, the perineum suffers.
It is important to understand the paths through which the pain spreads. For example, if the pain during urination in men radiates to the head of the penis, and in women - to the clitoris, most likely we are dealing with stones in the bladder. When the prostate is affected, the pain moves towards the rectum, and its intensity increases during defecation. If there is pain in the side, lower back, this means that the infection has spread to the upper genitourinary tract.
An important point in diagnostics is the time of occurrence of painful sensations during urination (before, at the very beginning, during, after the process). When pain occurs before urination, most likely the bladder is stretched or inflamed, there are tumors, its physical volume has decreased (bladder shrinkage).
When pain is observed at the beginning of urination, it is most likely associated with inflammation of the urethra, or more precisely, something is wrong with its initial section. With cystitis and oncopathologies, pain during urination appears due to contraction of the bladder.
Complete emptying of the bladder, when the prostate or the cervical region of the bladder is affected, leads to pain after urination. Usually it appears at the end of urination, then continues for some time and goes away when the bladder is completely full.
When diagnosing the causes of pain during urination, the patient's age is taken into account, as well as any illnesses he has suffered that could lead to such processes or cause complications.
There are also additional symptoms that can clarify the diagnosis:
- urination occurs more frequently than in the patient's normal state;
- foreign impurities in urine (blood, pus, etc.);
- general malaise in the form of fever, anemia, exhaustion, neuroses.
Pain when urinating after smear
Many patients complain of severe pain when urinating after a smear. The presence of pain when urinating after the analysis depends on the professionalism of the doctor and the smear instrument - a catheter. Minor discomfort after such a procedure lasts for a day or two and then passes. Then you do not need to take any medications. If the pain when urinating after a catheter is very strong, you can use anti-inflammatory drugs.
Pain when urinating after childbirth
A characteristic postpartum syndrome is the appearance of pain and burning when urinating. Experts say that there is nothing to worry about, it is quite normal. However, if all this continues for three to four days, and also after all the tears and cuts in the perineum have healed, then it is quite possible that an infection has entered, which can lead to inflammation of the urinary tract.
Inflammation of the urinary tract occurs due to trauma to the bladder during childbirth or a decrease in its tone; due to the application of obstetric forceps or a vacuum extractor; or the insertion of a catheter.
Experts advise drinking more liquids, such as cranberry or lingonberry juice. The fact is that these berries are good at fighting germs and all sorts of infections. It is better not to drink coffee and carbonated water while breastfeeding. Doctors advise emptying the bladder every two hours during the first few days after the baby is born. If you wash yourself more often, it will provoke the urge to urinate. It is important to maintain hygiene so as not to introduce additional infections.
If the pain when urinating after childbirth is very intense and does not go away for a long time, you should definitely contact your gynecologist.
Pain when urinating after cesarean section
A common phenomenon is pain when urinating after a cesarean section. A woman's body always takes longer and more difficult time to recover after a cesarean section than after a normal birth. Problems with urination and pain when urinating occur due to the catheter that is inserted into the ureter. Usually, the same advice is given as after a normal birth, as described above.
Pain when urinating after sex
Pain when urinating after sex usually indicates the same problems – diseases of the genitourinary system, infections, sexually transmitted diseases.
Diagnosis of pain when urinating
Naturally, if you have just noticed pain when urinating, you need to see a doctor who can accurately diagnose you. The danger of inflammations of the genitourinary system is that they tend to quickly become chronic. Therefore, it is important for a specialist to diagnose the disease as soon as possible and prescribe adequate therapy. To identify the cause of pain during urination, doctors take the following measures:
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the genitourinary system;
- smear collection, tests;
- blood test;
- PCR for detection of latent infections
- X-ray of the lumbosacral spine.
Treatment of pain when urinating
Diseases associated with pain during urination are treated by specialists such as urologist, gynecologist, venereologist, and andrologist.
Treatment is carried out depending on what disease caused the pain during urination. In case of a foreign body in the bladder, a polyp in the urethra, bladder and prostate tumors, surgical intervention is prescribed.
When diseases such as urethritis, cystitis, prostatitis, cystalgia are diagnosed, then conservative treatment is usually prescribed.
When pain when urinating occurs during pregnancy, special attention should be paid to the medications used for treatment so that they do not harm the child.
Medicines for the treatment of pain when urinating vary greatly depending on the diagnosis, treatment methods of each doctor and the characteristics of the body of a particular patient. Therefore, you should not self-medicate and consult a specialist.
Before providing medical assistance
There are steps you can take to reduce the intensity of pain when urinating until you get medical help. First, you can drink more water than usual. This will reduce the concentration of urine, and the amount of trace elements that irritate the bladder and urethra will also decrease accordingly.
To reduce inflammation and swelling, hot water foot baths are recommended. Then the blood is directed to the veins of the legs and reduces inflammation, and also alleviates symptoms. But these procedures cannot be performed if a person has venous insufficiency, thrombosis and thrombophlebitis in the legs. You can use painkillers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Diet for the treatment of painful urination
In diseases associated with painful urination, it is important to follow a special diet during treatment and, importantly, for some time after it, and return to the usual diet gradually. You cannot eat fried, smoked, spicy, salty, fatty and sour foods.
Traditional methods of treating pain when urinating
- a decoction of crushed cucumber seeds to treat pain when urinating. To prepare, take a glass of boiling water, pour in the seeds and boil them for fifteen minutes. After cooling, take half a glass three times a day, preferably before meals, about thirty minutes before.
- a decoction of bear's ears (herb) for the treatment of pain when urinating. Grind the leaves, mix one tablespoon and a glass of boiled water, prepare a water bath, hold for about thirty minutes. After cooling, strain and add boiled water to restore the original volume. Take half a glass three times a day after meals (after thirty minutes).
- decoction of lettuce leaves to treat pain when urinating. One teaspoon of leaves, two glasses of water, leave for two hours. Take one tablespoon three times a day.
- decoction of aspen buds for the treatment of pain when urinating. A teaspoon of buds is steamed with a glass of boiling water and infused for an hour. One tablespoon is taken at intervals of several hours one day.
- lilac decoction for treating pain when urinating. One tablespoon of lilac flowers is poured with a glass of boiling water, after an hour everything needs to be filtered. Drink one tablespoon three times a day.
But all these methods do not replace medical treatment, even if they managed to relieve pain during urination, then this is only for a while. Pain during urination is most often caused by serious diseases, so it is imperative to consult a doctor.