Urethritis: What It Is and What to Do First

Burning when you pee or unusual discharge? That could be urethritis — inflammation of the urethra. It’s often blamed on STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea, but things like chemical irritation, bacteria from the gut, or even trauma can cause it too. Knowing the difference matters because treatment and partner care change depending on the cause.

Urethritis can affect anyone, but symptoms and complications differ between men and women. Men usually notice pain during urination, discharge, or penile soreness. Women often get milder or mixed urinary symptoms and may mistake it for a bladder infection.

Common Symptoms and Red Flags

Look for these signs: a burning feeling when peeing, frequent urge to urinate, cloudy or unusual discharge, itching, or lower belly pain. If you have fever, severe belly pain, blood in urine, or testicular pain, seek urgent care — those could signal a more serious infection or complication.

If symptoms start after new sexual contact, tell your clinician. They’ll likely test you for common STIs because early treatment prevents spread and complications.

Testing and Treatment — What to Expect

Your clinician may order a urine test and a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Sometimes a urethral swab is needed. Tests are quick and accurate; they guide antibiotic choice.

Treatment depends on the cause. For gonorrhea, an injection like ceftriaxone plus oral medication is standard in many places. Chlamydia is often treated with doxycycline or azithromycin. Non-infectious urethritis gets treated by stopping the irritant and using symptom relief. Always follow the exact prescription your clinician gives.

Important: avoid sex until both you and your partner(s) finish treatment and any repeat testing shows clearance. Tell sexual partners so they can be treated too — this stops re-infection.

After starting antibiotics you should notice improvement in 24–48 hours. If symptoms persist or get worse, return to the clinic. Some infections need a different antibiotic or further investigation.

Simple home care helps: drink water, avoid alcohol and spicy foods while symptoms are active, use over-the-counter pain relievers for discomfort, and take sitz baths to ease local pain.

Prevention is straightforward: use condoms, limit new sexual partners, get regular STI screening if sexually active with new partners, and avoid douching or scented products that can irritate the urethra.

Final practical tip: keep records of your tests and treatments. If symptoms return, that info speeds up correct care. If you’re unsure what’s causing the symptoms, book an appointment — better to check than to guess.