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Your sex life, your way
Have you been asking yourself, Why does my penis burn? every time you pee or get an erection?
Unless you’re into genital clamps (no kink-shaming here!), experiencing penis pain probably isn’t your idea of a good time.
You may feel a burning sensation in your penis due to bacterial infections, inflammation of the urethra or prostate, kidney stones, or even penile cancer. Depending on the cause, treatments might include oral antibiotics, antifungal cream, or pain management.
Keep reading to explore eight potential reasons you have a burning penis, what treatments are available, and what you can do to prevent penile discomfort in the future.
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Burning genitals can have many causes, ranging from minor infections to more serious medical conditions. Let’s look at the most common reasons you may feel the burn:
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Yeast infections
Balanitis
Urethritis
Prostatitis
Kidney stones
Penile cancer
Why does my penis burn? Keep scrolling for potential answers.
Some common STIs and STDs are associated with a burning sensation in the penis, especially while urinating.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), symptoms of chlamydia are similar to symptoms of gonorrhea in men. A burning sensation while peeing and discharge from the tip of the penis are common symptoms of both STIs. Swelling of the testicles might also occur, though this symptom is rare.
Genital herpes can also cause burning during urination, along with a smelly discharge from the penis. One distinct symptom is the presence of unusual sores on the genitals.
If your penis pain is caused by an STD or STI like gonorrhea or chlamydia, your healthcare provider will prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection.
Since herpes is caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t resolve an outbreak. However, you might be prescribed antiviral medication the first time you have an outbreak to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
UTIs are more common in women because of their shorter urethras, but they affect 20 percent of the male population at some point in their lifetime.
Along with pain during urination, UTI symptoms include frequent urination, pain at the urethral opening (meatus), and a feeling of urgency to pee.
When not treated promptly, a UTI can lead to a kidney infection, which might show up as fever and pain or tenderness on one side of the body.
UTIs are treated with antibiotics at home, though severe infections may require a hospital stay. You might also be prescribed pain medication.
Some people use home remedies when they have a UTI in addition to prescription medication. These include drinking unsweetened cranberry juice to prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls, taking probiotics, applying heat to the abdomen, and staying hydrated.
Like UTIs, yeast infections are more common in women but also affect men. These fungal infections can be caused by poor hygiene or having unprotected sex with someone who has a yeast infection.
Yeast infections are typically the result of an overgrowth of Candida, a type of fungus that lives on the skin. In men, they can cause burning during urination, itchiness in the genital area, discharge, red spots, white patches, cracked foreskin, or pain during sexual activity.
A male yeast infection can lead to a more serious condition called balanitis if not treated quickly and properly.
Yeast infections are usually treated with over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medication like clotrimazole. You may be prescribed fluconazole or a hydrocortisone cream if an OTC cream doesn’t work.
During treatment, it’s crucial to keep your genitals clean and dry to help kill the infection.
Is the tip of your penis burning? You may have balanitis, an inflammation of the glans penis, which affects around three to 11 percent of males during their lifetime.
Although yeast is a common culprit, balanitis can also be the result of STIs like gonorrhea or chlamydia — but balanitis itself isn’t contagious. It might also happen because of poor hygiene, chemical irritants, or an allergic reaction.
Along with penile pain, balanitis can cause symptoms like itchiness, redness, soreness, discharge, an unpleasant smell, tight foreskin, painful erections, or swelling.
Balanitis is treated depending on its cause. Antifungals work for yeast-caused balanitis, and antibiotics resolve balanitis related to STIs.
If balanitis is caused by skin irritants or allergies, you might be advised to use a steroid cream to relieve the irritation.
Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra. It’s more commonly diagnosed in men because women are often asymptomatic.
Common symptoms in men include urethral discharge, burning or stinging during urination (especially your first pee of the day), itching, painful ejaculation, and pain in the testicles. If not addressed, urethritis can lead to infertility.
Some men develop urethritis due to STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea, tight clothing, chemical irritants, and physical activities that put pressure on the urethra, like horseback riding and cycling.
If your urethritis is caused by a bacterial infection, you’ll be prescribed antibiotics.
If your healthcare professional deems pain medication safe, you may also find some relief with it. Any of your current sexual partners might need treatment, too, if they have symptoms.
Prostatitis is a painful condition involving inflammation of the prostate gland. It’s the most common urinary tract problem for men younger than 50 and is usually caused by a bacterial infection.
One of the core symptoms of prostatitis is pain. This pain can be felt in various body parts, including the penis, scrotum, perineum, urethra, lower back, or abdomen.
Some men feel pain during or after ejaculation or during or after urination. Prostatitis may also cause urinary frequency and urgency (feeling like you really have to pee all the time), a weak urine stream, fever, chills, nausea, or body aches.
Treatment for prostatitis calls for treating the infection and its symptoms. For the infection, you’ll take antibiotics. For urinary symptoms, you’ll likely take alpha-blockers.
And you might be prescribed medication or advised to take OTC meds like ibuprofen for the pain.
Kidney stones are hardened, pebble-like masses that form in the kidneys when there are high levels of minerals in your urine. They affect around 11 percent of men in the U.S. at least once.
Varying in size and shape, small kidney stones may pass through the urinary tract unnoticed. However, larger stones can block the flow of urine, leading to a burning sensation in the penis and possibly bleeding.
Other common symptoms include pain in the abdomen, back, or groin, a frequent need to pee, inability to urinate, or foul-smelling urine.
Treatment for kidney stones usually depends on their size. If they’re small enough to pass through your urethra, you’ll typically be advised to drink lots of fluids and take pain medication.
If kidney stones are too large to pass, your healthcare provider can perform procedures to break them up, such as shockwave lithotripsy or ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy.
According to the American Cancer Society, sores or lumps from penile cancer don’t always cause pain, but they might.
The symptoms you’re more likely to see include a change in the skin color or texture of your penis, crusty lumps or bumps, and discharge or bleeding under the foreskin.
Sometimes, penile cancer makes it hard for the foreskin to retract, which can lead to swelling and discomfort.
Most men with penile cancers have surgery to remove the cancerous masses. In some cases, radiation is used in addition to surgery (or instead of it).
Chemotherapy might also be recommended for more substantial tumors or if the cancer has spread.
You can’t always prevent a burning penis if it’s caused by something like penile cancer. But you can lower the risk of many of the other causes listed above.
Penis burn prevention tips include:
Practicing safe sex
Using water-based lubricant during sex or masturbation (this can also help you avoid friction burn)
Avoiding harsh soaps and lotions in your genital area
Practicing good hygiene
Hydrating frequently
Not wearing tight clothing
Seeking medical care at the first sign of unusual symptoms is also vital, so don’t hesitate to contact a healthcare provider.
When your penis is burning, it’s hard to think about anything else. But taking early action can get you back to normal.
Here’s what to remember about penis burn:
Many health conditions can cause a burning penis. Why does my penis burn? Some of the most common causes include STIs, UTIs, yeast infections, balanitis, urethritis, and prostatitis.
Penis burn treatments depend on the underlying cause. In some cases, you can tend to your pain with home remedies or a simple course of antibiotics. Other times, you might need more in-depth medical care. Even if you think your pain is temporary, always seek medical advice to prevent complications.
You can reduce the risk of a burning penis. Practicing safe sex, avoiding harsh soaps and lotions, and practicing good hygiene are just a few things you can do to keep your penis burn-free.
Want more guidance on how to care for your sexual health? Check out these tips for keeping your penis healthy.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Dr. Kelly Brown is a board certified Urologist and fellowship trained in Andrology. She is an accomplished men’s health expert with a robust background in healthcare innovation, clinical medicine, and academic research. Dr. Brown was previously Medical Director of a male fertility startup where she lead strategy and design of their digital health platform, an innovative education and telehealth model for delivering expert male fertility care.
She completed her undergraduate studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Heels!) with a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science and a Minor in Chemistry. She took a position at University of California Los Angeles as a radiologic technologist in the department of Interventional Cardiology, further solidifying her passion for medicine. She also pursued the unique opportunity to lead departmental design and operational development at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, sparking her passion for the business of healthcare.
Dr. Brown then went on to obtain her doctorate in medicine from the prestigious Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine and Masters in Business Administration from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, with a concentration in Healthcare Management. During her surgical residency in Urology at University of California San Francisco, she utilized her research year to focus on innovations in telemedicine and then served as chief resident with significant contributions to clinical quality improvement. Dr. Brown then completed her Andrology Fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin, furthering her expertise in male fertility, microsurgery, and sexual function.
Her dedication to caring for patients with compassion, understanding, as well as a unique ability to make guys instantly comfortable discussing anything from sex to sperm makes her a renowned clinician. In addition, her passion for innovation in healthcare combined with her business acumen makes her a formidable leader in the field of men’s health.
Dr. Brown is an avid adventurer; summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (twice!) and hiking the incredible Torres del Paine Trek in Patagonia, Chile. She deeply appreciates new challenges and diverse cultures on her travels. She lives in Denver with her husband, two children, and beloved Bernese Mountain Dog. You can find Dr. Brown on LinkedIn for more information.
Education & Training
Andrology Fellowship, Medical College of Wisconsin
Urology Residency, University of California San Francisco
M.D. Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineB.S. in Radiologic Science, Chemistry Minor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Published as Kelly Walker
Cowan, B, Walker, K., Rodgers, K., Agyemang, J. (2023). Hormonal Management Improves Semen Analysis Parameters in Men with Abnormal Concentration, Motility, and/or Morphology. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 118, Issue 5, e4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/fertility-and-sterility/vol/120/issue/1/suppl/S
Walker, K., Gogoj, A., Honig, S., Sandlow, J. (2021). What’s New in Male Contraception? AUA Update Series, Volume 40. https://auau.auanet.org/content/update-series-2021-lesson-27-what%E2%80%99s-new-male-contraception
Walker, K., Shindel, A. (2019). AUA Erectile Dysfunction Guideline. AUA Update Series, Volume 38. https://auau.auanet.org/content/course-307
Walker, K., Ramstein, J., & Smith, J. (2019). Regret Regarding Fertility Preservation Decisions Among Male Cancer Patients. The Journal of Urology, 201(Supplement 4), e680-e681. https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/01.JU.0000556300.18991.8e
Walker, K., & Smith, J. (2019). Feasibility Study of Video Telehealth Clinic Visits in Urology. The Journal of Urology, 201(Supplement 4), e545-e545. https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/01.JU.0000556071.60611.37