Whether you’re male or female, when you feel burning at the tip of your urethra it’s usually a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or sexually transmitted illness (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. However, there can be other causes.
In people assigned male at birth, the urethra is a tube that runs from the bladder through the penis. In people assigned female at birth, it runs from the bladder through the pelvis. The urethra carries urine from the bladder outside the body.
But in some cases, something other than an STI will cause a burning sensation at the tip of the urethra.
The most common causes that are not STIs include UTIs and non-STI-related inflammation of the urethra, called urethritis. Treatment usually involves a round of antibiotics.
In most cases, burning at the tip of the urethra is caused by bacteria entering the urethra. Here’s a closer look at the possible causes:
1. UTI
With a UTI, bacteria make their way to the bladder where they multiply and spread through the body’s urinary system. Some people develop a UTI after oral, vaginal, or anal sexual intercourse, which can expose the urethra to bacteria.
Generally, females are more likely to develop a UTI than men, because their urethras are shorter than men’s. So, any bacteria that enters the urethra only needs to travel a short distance before reaching the bladder, where it can spread through the urinary tract.
2. Urethritis
Often urethritis, or inflammation of the urethra, is caused by an STI. But simple irritation of the tip of the urethra can also cause urethritis. Some common irritants include:
- deodorants
- lotions
- soaps
- spermicides
Poor hygiene may also lead to urethritis. It can also be caused by physical damage to the urethra from vigorous sex, masturbation, or a medical procedures such as catheter insertion.
3. Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard masses of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys and move through the urinary tract. Kidney stones are often the result of dehydration, poor diet, or infection. Genetics also seem to play a role in whether or not a person develops kidney stones.
Sometimes these stones make it to the tip of the urethra during urination. They can be very painful to pass, especially if they are large in size. Some kidney stones are as small as a fraction of an inch, while others are several inches long.
4. Urethral stricture
Urethral stricture, or scarring, narrows the urethra and may cause inflammation or infection that causes a burning sensation at the tip. Some causes of a scar tissue buildup in the urethra include:
- medical procedures like endoscopy
- long-term catheter use
- trauma to the pelvis or urethra
- an enlarged prostate gland
- surgery to remove an enlarged prostate gland
- cancer in the urethra
- prostate and radiation therapy
Often the cause is unknown.
5. Prostatitis
In men, prostatitis, or swelling of the prostate gland, can cause burning at the tip of the urethra. In many cases, the causes of prostatitis are unknown. However, some males may develop prostatitis as the result of a bacterial infection or nerve damage in the lower urinary tract.
6. Prostate cancer treatment
Research suggests that some types of treatment for prostate cancer may cause a lasting burning sensation in the urethra.
In one
Here are some of the other symptoms you can expect if you have a burning sensation in the tip of your urethra that’s not an STI:
UTI
Some other symptoms of a UTI include:
- a frequent and urgent need to urinate
- passing very small amounts of urine
- cloudy urine
- urine that is reddish or brown (sign of blood in the urine)
- strong-smelling urine
- pain in your pelvis (especially in females)
UTIs affecting more specific parts of the urinary system may cause additional symptoms, such as:
- pain in the upper back and side
- pressure in the abdomen
- urethral discharge
- high fever
- chills
- nausea
- vomiting
Urethritis
Females with urethritis sometimes don’t show any symptoms, while males are more likely to show signs within days to a month after infection, or exposure to irritants.
A common symptom is pus that comes out of the urethra, or the urethra or penis appears to smell. males with urethritis may also experience pain and swelling in one or both of the testicles, and irritation along the penis.
Kidney stones
Other symptoms of kidney stones include:
- strong pain in the side and back
- pain that moves into the lower abdomen and groin
- pain that comes in waves and different levels of intensity
- pain during urination
- reddish or brown urine
- cloudy urine
- foul-smelling urine
- nausea
- vomiting
- frequent urge to urinate
- urinating in large or small amounts
- fever and chills
Urethral stricture
Urethral stricture is more common in males than females. Some other symptoms include:
- inability to completely empty the bladder
- increased need to urinate
- spraying during urination
- straining during urination
- urinary tract infection
- weak urine stream
Prostatitis
Some other symptoms of prostatitis include:
- blood in the urine (reddish or brown urine)
- cloudy urine
- difficulty urinating
- flu-like symptoms
- frequent urination, especially at night
- pain during ejaculation
- pain in the abdomen, groin, or lower back
- pain in the perineum (area between scrotum and rectum)
- pain or irritation in the penis or testicles
- urgent need to urinate
Prostate cancer treatment
Some other side effects of prostate cancer treatments include:
- bowel problems
- breast growth
- difficulty getting an erection
- dry orgasms
- fatigue
- heart problems
- hot flushes
- infertility
- loss of libido
- mood swings
- osteoporosis
- urine leakage and problems
The most common STIs to cause burning at the tip of the urethra include chlamydia and gonorrhea. However, there’s a third, less-known STI that could be causing your symptoms called non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU).
This is a common STI that causes inflammation of the urethra and can lead to burning. Females often don’t show symptoms. males may experience:
- burning or discomfort, especially during urination
- irritation or soreness at the tip of the penis
- white or cloudy discharge coming from the tip of the penis
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you may want to be screened for NGU.
To help get to the bottom of what’s causing the burning at the tip of your urethra, your doctor will ask you questions to better understand your medical history. He or she will also ask about your sexual history and whether or not you have had cancer or kidney stones in your family.
Your doctor will also perform a physical exam to check for signs of infection, such as fever. Lastly, he or she is likely to run some diagnostic tests to check for any unusual results that may point them in the direction of an answer. These may include:
- cystoscopy (looking at the urethra and bladder with a tiny camera)
- retrograde urethrogram (X-rays to look at the urethra)
- pelvic MRI
- pelvic ultrasound
- urinary flow test
- urine tests (urinalysis)
- urethral ultrasound
Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may refer you to a specialist such as a gynecologist or obstetrician to help treat the cause of your symptoms.
Treatments for a burning sensation at the tip of the urethra vary depending on the cause.
UTI
You will be put on a course of antibiotics, or you may have to stay in the hospital for intravenous antibiotics and hospital care if you have a severe infection.
Urethritis
You’ll be given a course of antibiotics if an infection is present. You may be able to take medications for pain relief as long as you don’t have any issues, such as kidney or liver disease, stomach ulcer, or are taking blood thinning medications. Your doctor might also tell you to:
- avoid sex or masturbation for a few weeks
- practice protected, safe sex to prevent future cases of urethritis
- practice healthy hygiene practices
- have a catheter removed
- stop use of irritating products
Kidney stones
Smaller kidney stones are easier to treat than larger stones. For small stones, treatment usually includes:
- alpha blocker medication, which your doctor may prescribe to help you pass your kidney stone
- drinking plenty of water
- pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen
- scope to remove stones in the urethra or kidney.
For larger stones, your doctor may recommend:
- surgery to remove stones in the kidney
- surgery to decrease activity of the parathyroid gland, which can contribute to formation of kidney stones
- using sound waves to break up stones (extracorporeal shock wave therapy, or ESWL)
Urethral stricture
Several things can be done to ease this condition, including:
- catheterization
- dilation
- endoscopic urethrotomy (removal of scar tissue with a laser)
- implanted stent or permanent catheter (permanent artificial tube to keep urethra open)
- urethroplasty (surgical removal or enlargement of the urethra)
Prostatitis
A few medications can be used for this, such as:
- alpha blockers to relax the bladder and ease pain
- antibiotics
- anti-inflammatory drugs
Prostate cancer treatment
You may be able to pause your treatment if your doctor says it’s appropriate. Otherwise, you can try anti-inflammatory medications.
Burning at the tip of urethra is usually a cause for concern whether or not it’s caused by an STI. If your symptoms last more than a few days, or are accompanied by other unusual symptoms, see a doctor right away.
For cases of burning at the tip of the urethra accompanied by severe pain in the sides, back, or abdomen, and fever, chills, or nausea, seek emergency help as these are signs of severe infection.