Does this describe your symptoms?

Definition

• Discomfort (pain, burning or stinging) when passing urine

• May include urgency (can't wait) and frequency (passing small amounts) of urination

General Information

• Urinary Tract Infection: Urinary tract infections are the most common cause of painful urination.

• Vaginitis: Women with vaginitis sometimes have mild pain with urination but the main symptom of vaginitis is a new or abnormal discharge from the vagina. Vaginitis is a general term that means "vaginal inflammation." Vaginitis may occur because of chemical irritation (e.g., excessive douching, or excessive use of over the counter yeast medication) or it may have an infectious cause (e.g., trichomonas, yeast).

• Sexually Transmitted Disease: Sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes) can also cause painful urination.

If not, see these topics

• A new or abnormal VAGINAL DISCHARGE is the main symptom

• Problems with external female genital area, see VULVAR SYMPTOMS

When to Call Your Doctor

Call 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If

• Very weak (can't stand)

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• You feel weak or very sick

• Severe pain

• Unable to urinate and your bladder feels very full

• Fever of 100.5° F (38.1° C) or higher

• Shaking chills

• Side (flank) or back pain is present

• Abdominal pain is present

• Have diabetes mellitus or a weakened immune system (e.g., HIV positive, cancer chemotherapy, chronic steroid treatment, splenectomy)

• Are bedridden (e.g., nursing home patient, stroke, chronic illness, recovering from surgery)

• Are a transplant patient (e.g., liver, heart, lung, kidney)

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If

• Blood in urine

• All other women with painful urination

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR PAINFUL URINATION (pending talking with your doctor)