Urination Pain - Male

Adult HouseCalls Online

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.
  • Sexually Transmitted Disease: Sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. gonorrhea, chlamydia) can also cause painful urination. Most men with this type of infection will describe a clear-white to light yellow discharge from the penis.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If

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 or only a few drops 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
  • Pain or swelling in scrotum
  • 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
  • Pus (white, yellow) from end of penis
  • All other men with painful urination
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HOME CARE ADVICE FOR PAINFUL URINATION (pending talking with your doctor)

  1. Fluids: Drink extra fluids. Drink 8-10 glasses of liquids a day. (Reason: to produce a dilute, non-irritating urine)
  2. Cranberry Juice: Drinking cranberry juice may help in fighting urinary tract infections.
  3. Call Your Doctor If:
    • You become worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

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Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Instructions: The first purpose of Adult HouseCalls Online is to help you determine how sick you are and if you need to call your doctor. The second purpose is to help you treat yourself at home when it is safe to do so. Your doctor's advice and your good judgment should always take precedence over information in these topics.

When to Call Your Doctor

Copy Right : Author and Senior Reviewer: David A. Thompson, M.D. Clinical content review provided by Senior Reviewer and Healthpoint Medical Network.

Last Review Date: 8/1/2006

Last Revised: 10/1/2006

Adult HouseCalls Online. Portions Copyright 2000-2006 Self Care Decisions LLC; Copryight LMS, Inc.

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Are You Sick?

David A Thompson, MD is the author of Adult HouseCalls Online. He is a board-certified emergency medicine physician at MacNeal Hospital in Chicago. He has a national reputation in telephone triage, decision support tools, medical information technology and quality improvement. Adult HouseCalls Online is a decision support tool for adults that has been reviewed and approved by adult physicians.

Is Your Child Sick?

Pediatric HouseCalls Online is a guide for treating your child at home, calling your child's doctor or seeking immediate medical attention. Developed by Dr. Barton Schmitt, MD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician on staff at The Children’s Hospital. Dr. Schmitt has developed health tools for parents, including Pediatric HouseCalls Online, the Parent Advice Line and his 3rd edition of Your Child’s Health, which is available in bookstores.

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