Why Does It Burn When I Pee After Sex?

Doctors explain why doing the right thing can feel so painful in the moment.

November 4, 2024

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Despite being a bit of a buzzkill, popping up to pee after sex is a common recommendation for flushing things out down there and avoiding a urinary tract infection (UTI). Yet sometimes, you might be hit with a painful or fiery stream—which can feel like nothing short of punishment for dutifully doing what you’re supposed to. It turns out, pee that burns after sex shouldn’t keep you from making that post-O bathroom trip. But it can tip you off to something awry in your nether regions.

Inflammation (a.k.a. a sore vagina) is most often the explanation for why it burns to pee after sex, but the origin of that varies from friction to infection, Kenosha D. Gleaton, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn in Charleston, South Carolina, and medical advisor for the health testing company Everlywell, tells SELF. Whatever the cause, when urine touches irritated tissue in the vulva or vagina, it’s almost like lemon juice on a cut: It aggravates the area, unleashing a stinging sensation.

One or two lava-like urinations after sex isn’t usually something to worry about, Renita White, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at Georgia Obstetrics & Gynecology, in Atlanta, tells SELF. But if the feeling persists for 12 to 24 hours or longer, she says, it could be a sign that something more is going on.

Read on to learn all the possible reasons why your pee burns after sex, how to put out the fire and keep cool down there, and when a medical condition might be stoking the flames.

You had dry (or rough!) sex, and things got a little torn up.

As mentioned, the friction that can happen when anything enters your vagina (penis, toy, finger) can be irritating, especially if it’s moving in and out for a good while and you’re not well-lubricated, Kameelah Phillips, MD, a New York–based ob-gyn and Organon health partner, tells SELF. If it’s like the Sahara in there, penetration may even cause micro-tears that you don’t notice until you pee, Dr. White adds. Sex that’s rough or deep or includes new-to-you positions can also involve more rubbing and leave things raw, Dr. Gleaton says. As a result, peeing might burn for a little while after.

Even if you’re as slick as a slip n’ slide, it’s also possible that the spike in blood flow to your vulva during sex and orgasm just makes you more sensitive down there, which could potentially trigger a burning sensation during the first couple pees that follow, Dr. White says. But in any of these cases, the stinging feeling will typically let up after a couple empties of your bladder, as your natural discharge soothes and remoisturizes your vagina and the extra blood leaves that region, she explains.

You’re fighting an infection in your vagina or urinary tract.

Burning pee is a symptom of several different infections that can plague your nether regions—including yeast and bacterial vaginosis (BV), as well as UTIs and a few STIs. If you have one, it’s possible that you only really notice it after having sex, which can especially irritate an area that’s already inflamed.

Among that list, a UTI is the one most commonly linked with searing pee because this kind of bacterial infection occurs right in your urinary tract. It often affects your urethra (the tube from which pee comes out), but it can also work its way up into your bladder if it’s left untreated, Dr. Gleaton says. The result is not only burning pee but, in some cases, blood in your urine, pelvic pain, and urgent and more frequent trips to the bathroom.

Yeast and BV, on the other hand, are infections that happen in your vagina—the former, from an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans and the latter, from a surplus of the bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis. In addition to painful peeing, they both typically cause itching and burning in and around your vulva along with unusual discharge (which can look like cottage cheese in the case of yeast or turn gray and fishy-smelling with BV).

STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis can chart a similarly uncomfy path (which is also why they’re so easily confused with yeast). All of these “can lead to inflammation of the genital tissues and urinary tract,” Dr. Gleaton says. If you don’t treat them, this irritation can worsen when you have sex, potentially causing a burning sensation when you go to pee afterward, she explains. (In these scenarios, you might also experience pain and bleeding during intercourse, Dr. White adds.)

You’re allergic or sensitive to something you’re using during or after sex.

It’s also possible that whatever graced your vulva during sex just did not sit well. Latex condoms or those that contain spermicide and certain kinds of lubes (especially the scented or flavored ones) can all spark an allergic reaction or cause vaginal irritation in folks who are sensitive to them, Dr. Phillips says. And the result may be flamin’ hot pee. It’s rare, but you can also be allergic to semen, which can cause post-sex pain, itching, and burning around your vagina for up to several hours after having unprotected intercourse with someone who has a penis.

Your after-sex hygiene habits could also be aggravating things down there, Dr. White says. For instance, you might be tempted to use fragranced soap on your vulva after hooking up or scrub off with a different shower gel than you typically use if you’re at a partner’s house—both of which can irritate your vagina and have you peeing fire. (Reminder: It’s never a good idea to clean your vagina itself, and when it comes to your vulva, plain water and a gentle unscented soap will do, Dr. Phillips says.)

What to do about burning pee after sex

If you suspect your pee is feeling fiery because things have been rubbed raw down there, Dr. White has a tip: Just before you’re about to go, gently separate your labia with your fingers. This will help your stream go directly from your urethra to the toilet, bypassing this potentially sensitive area, she says. Dr. White also recommends wearing loose cotton underwear post-sex to avoid further irritating that zone.

If your burning pee keeps up for several hours, it’s a good idea to see an ob-gyn or primary care provider to check if something more serious (like an infection or allergy) might be to blame. And you’ll want to see a doctor stat if your scorching pee after sex also comes alongside other out-of-the-ordinary happenings, like wonky discharge (more of it or a different color or smell than usual); vaginal pain, itching, or burning; or blood in your urine, Dr. White says. As noted above, a variety of conditions share these uncomfortable symptoms, and a medical professional can help you decipher what’s going on and give you a proper diagnosis and treatment. That’s especially important given UTIs and many common STIs are curable with antibiotics but can cause long-term health issues (like infertility) if left unresolved, Dr. Gleaton adds.

How to avoid pee that burns after sex in the future

Anything you can do to make penetration as smooth and slick as possible will lower your risk of irritation and, in turn, pain with peeing later. Some things to consider: starting super slow (according to Dr. White, most micro-tears happen at the beginning of intercourse), and communicating to your partner if any penetrative act feels even slightly uncomfortable. That should be your cue to stop, shift gears, and change positions, she says.

You’ll also want to use a ton of lube—slather it on both your vulva and whatever’s going to be penetrating it for extra slip. It’s a good idea to glide it on before you get started and reapply when you’re changing positions or if things just dry up. Dr. Gleaton suggests choosing a water-based option, particularly if you have sensitive skin or will be using latex condoms (which oil-based lubes can weaken) or silicone sex toys (which silicone-based lubes can degrade).

Steering clear of any lube or other sex product that you suspect has aggravated your vulva in the past can help too. And it’s wise to brush up on best practices for vulva hygiene to minimize your risk of infection. For starters, always wipe from front to back, avoid using any fragranced menstrual products or cleansers down there, and wash any toys or body parts that have been in or around your butt before using them in your vagina. If you’re having sex with more than one person, be sure to also get tested for STIs regularly or keep a few at-home tests handy, so you’re better equipped to catch any emerging infection and seek out care right when it crops up, Dr. Gleaton says.

The reality is, no matter how many precautions you take, you might still get fiery urine after sex sometimes. If it’s a frequent occurrence, even if it tends to subside on its own, it’s worth bringing it up to your doctor, Dr. White says. She notes that some people are just more prone to infection or irritation in that region (even if they do everything right), and a physician may be able to offer a preventive treatment like a low-dose antibiotic, for example, if you’re dealing with constant UTIs. In any case, getting a little support can help extinguish those flames—and at least give you one less reason to resent the post-sex pee.