Many men and women experience pain or a burning sensation when they pee after sex. This is called dysuria and it can be a sign of an infection or disease like genital herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea.
Burning when you pee after sex may also be a sign of urethritis, which affects the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
Causes
If you’re feeling pain when you pee after sex, there are a few possible causes. A few of them are more serious than others, but pain when you pee is definitely worth bringing up with your doctor.
STIs, like herpes and chlamydia, can cause painful urination. They do this by irritating the urethra and vulva, Dr. Dweck says. This irritation can also lead to a condition called cystitis, which is pain and discharge in the bladder that sometimes burns when you pee.
Other causes of burning when you pee after sex include abrasions or tiny cuts from penetration, Dr. Minkin says. This can happen if you’re having sex with someone who has really rough hands or isn’t wearing condoms (sorry, guys). It’s not something to worry about, but it can be annoying.
Another possibility is a urinary tract infection, which can be painful when you pee because it’s usually in the bladder and urethra area, and pressure from sexual activity can irritate them. And since women have shorter urethras, they tend to get UTIs more often than men, Dr. Yamaguchi adds.
And if you see blood in your urine, that’s certainly a reason to call your doctor, Naftolin adds. That could be a sign of an STI, a UTI, or even a blood cancer called renal cell carcinoma, which is a type of kidney tumor.
Treatment
A burning sensation while peeing can be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI), an STI, or in rare cases, a yeast or bacterial vaginosis. If you have a UTI, the doctors POPSUGAR talked to say, the burning pain should go away with antibiotics. They suggest talking to your doctor if you have additional urinary symptoms, like fevers, chills, blood in the urine, or cloudy or foul-smelling pee.
STIs can also cause pain when you pee because the bacteria in them cause inflammation of the urethra and vulva, making it extra sensitive, Dr. Black explains. That’s why she recommends getting tested for chlamydia, herpes, or trichomoniasis—if you have any of those, a doc will prescribe antibiotics to get rid of them.
The burning feeling while you pee may also be caused by an irritation of your prostate gland, especially in men over the age of 50. A urologist can evaluate this symptom and diagnose you with a physical exam, urine test, and ultrasound of the prostate.
For some people, the burning pain isn’t a big deal and goes away on its own. But for others, it’s persistent and should be evaluated by a medical professional. In some cases, a urologist can prescribe over-the-counter pain relievers to ease the discomfort. You can also try applying a warm compress or using over-the-counter lubricant to help with the pain.
Prevention
A burning sensation when peeing is definitely no fun, but it isn’t always a sure sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI). POPSUGAR talked to ob-gyns to find out more about why your urine may burn and what you can do about it.
For women, a burning sensation while peeing after sex is often caused by friction from the anal area, especially if you’ve been having sex from the back or in a doggy position. The friction can irritate the urethra, leading to inflammation. A good lubricant can help prevent this.
Another reason why your pee might burn after sex is that you could have an untreated yeast infection in the vulva. If left untreated, the yeast can move up into your bladder and cause a UTI. This can be prevented by using a high-quality vaginal lubricant and cleaning your anal and genital areas (wipe front to back) before and after sexual activity.
It’s also important to make sure you’re using a form of birth control that will prevent pregnancy (like latex condoms). While peeing after sex can help flush bacteria out of the bladder, it won’t protect against sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia. If you’ve recently had sex with someone who has a chronic STI, getting tested is a must. A positive test can be treated with antibiotics, which will stop your symptoms and clear the infection.
Other Symptoms
Painful peeing after sex may be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI). UTIs can affect your bladder or, for people with penises, your prostate or the tube at the back of your testicles (epididymis). Other symptoms that accompany painful peeing after sex include fever, burning while urinating, pain when you ejaculate, cloudy or bloody urine and a burning sensation in your lower back, hips or upper thighs.
If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. They will ask you questions about your medical history and how the pain or burning started. They will also test your urine to check for an infection or other symptoms that might be causing the pain.
For women, a burning sensation when you pee can also be a sign of an overactive pelvic floor. You might need to practice pelvic floor exercises or use a different lubricant.
In men, a burning feeling while peeing can be a symptom of prostate inflammation or prostatitis. Your prostate gland is located just below your bladder and produces the fluid that transports semen through your urethra. Symptoms of prostatitis include a burning sensation while you pee, pain or pressure in your groin area and pus-like discharge from the penis.
For both men and women, peeing after sex won’t hurt your chances of getting pregnant. However, you should make sure that you always use a condom and the right lubricant to ensure your sperm has a smooth journey up to your fallopian tubes.