Painful Urination and Discharge: Causes and When to See a Doctor

Painful urination with discharge warrants medical evaluation. Possible causes:

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Frequency, urgency, urethral discharge.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Gonorrhea, chlamydia—urethral discharge, dysuria.
• Prostatitis (men): Prostate inflammation—pain, urinary difficulty, penile discharge.
• Cystocele (women): Bladder prolapse—urinary pain, vaginal urine leakage.
• Urethral Stricture: Narrowing—pain, weak stream.
• Vaginitis (women): Vaginal inflammation—discharge, itching, dysuria.
• Kidney Stones: Flank/abdominal pain, dysuria.

Diagnosis requires urinalysis, cultures, or imaging. Treatment targets the specific cause.