If you’re experiencing pain or a burning sensation while peeing after sex, you may be suffering from an infection, like a urinary tract infection (UTI), STI or vaginal yeast or bacterial vaginosis. You could also be suffering from irritation of the skin surrounding your penis or anus.
Other infections caused by sex can include genital herpes, gonorrhea and chlamydia, which all cause pain during peeing and pus-like discharge.
Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause pain when you pee. It can also affect the bladder and the tube that carries urine from your bladder (urethra). UTIs are very common, especially in women. They can be caused by many things, including infections like chlamydia and trichomonas or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Painful pee after sex is one of the most common symptoms of a UTI. It’s important to get a diagnosis and treatment right away.
The symptoms of a UTI include a strong need to pee, painful or burning pee and sometimes an overflow of urine. The burning you experience when you pee is caused by the infection irritating your bladder and the tubes that carry urine. It’s very important to talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing this symptom because it can lead to serious problems if left untreated, such as a kidney infection.
Besides a urinary tract infection, other causes of painful pee after sex include an allergy or irritation to the lubricant, condom or soap you use during intercourse. Yeast infections (which can cause itching and discharge that looks like cottage cheese) or other vaginal infections can also cause painful pee. And in men, a prostate infection can cause itching and urination pain. These conditions usually require a prescription for medicine to cure them.
Vaginal Infections
STIs (sexually transmitted infections) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or herpes may cause pain and burning when you pee after sex. These infections can be diagnosed with a simple test and treated with antibiotics. If you suspect an STI, be sure to alert any sexual partners and use a barrier method or abstain from sex until the infection is treated.
A urinary tract infection is another common cause of painful peeing after sex. These infections occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract and go up into the bladder. Sex increases the risk of getting a UTI and can also make it worse if you already have one.
Sometimes a painful or burning sensation when you pee after sex is a sign of vulvodynia, a chronic condition that causes pain in the vulva or vagina. This pain is usually at the opening of the genitals or in the area behind the pubic bone. The condition can be caused by a variety of things such as hormonal changes, medications, surgery, anal irritation or a lack of lubrication during sex.
A burning feeling when you pee may also be a symptom of urethritis, which occurs when the tube that carries urine out of the body becomes irritated or inflamed. It’s important to know the difference between these two conditions, as they require different treatments.
Irritation of the Skin Around the Genitals
The genitals are delicate, and the area around the urethra is even more sensitive. If the skin there is irritated — either from a lack of lubrication during sex or from a condom allergy, eczema, or sensitivity to semen or saliva, for example — it can burn when you pee. This can be a symptom of vulva irritation syndrome, balanitis, or a skin condition called lichen planus.
Whether you’re a man or woman, pain when you pee after sex can also be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI). If you get a UTI, bacteria can enter your bladder through the opening of your urethra. You can prevent this from happening by urinating immediately after sex and by using a lubricant that is fragrance-free, latex-free, or hypoallergenic, says ob-gyn Lakeisha Richardson, MD, of Greenville, Mississippi.
In addition to causing painful peeing, some medications can also cause bladder inflammation and irritation. This includes antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and medicines to treat other illnesses.
In men, painful peeing after sex may be due to a prostate problem like prostatitis, or from an STI, such as chlamydia, herpes, or genital herpes. It may also be a symptom of certain types of cancer, including prostate cancer. In these cases, the cause is usually easy to diagnose and treat. It is important to see a doctor right away if you experience painful peeing after sex.
Prostate Infection
A burning sensation when you pee is a common symptom of urinary tract infections, but it can also be a sign that something else is wrong. If you have pain in your bladder, pelvic area or urethra after sexual activity, talk to a health care professional to find out what’s causing it.
If your symptoms are severe, it could be a bacterial infection in the prostate or the tube that carries pee from the bladder (urethra). Acute bacterial prostatitis is an infection caused by bacteria, which can lead to painful urination and ejaculation. This type of prostatitis can also cause an unusual odor or blood in urine and semen. This type of prostatitis is usually treated with antibiotics.
Other types of prostatitis are not caused by bacteria and don’t need antibiotics to treat. However, if you have symptoms such as painful urination or ejaculation or pain in your pelvic area or lower back, you may have nonbacterial prostatitis. Nonbacterial prostatitis can be caused by stress, nerve irritation or injuries and doesn’t always respond to antibiotic treatment.
If you have a burning sensation when you pee after sex, your doctor will want to know how long the pain has been present and what other symptoms you are having. He or she will also want to know if you have any risk factors for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like genital herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea, which can also cause burning when you pee.
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