Urethritis can affect anyone. It is a condition that happens when the urethra becomes inflamed. The urethra is the tube that carries pee from your bladder then out of the body. Some people get no symptoms, but it can be sore and uncomfortable if you do. 

It is often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but it can be triggered by other infections, or by irritation or damage to your urethra. Sometimes, your doctor might not be able to find a cause.

The main types of urethritis are: 

  • Gonococcal urethritis, which is caused by the STI gonorrhoea. Find out about the causes and symptoms of gonorrhoea and how it’s treated.
  • Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), which is caused by something other than gonorrhoea. The most likely cause is an STI such as chlamydia. 
  • Non-specific urethritis (NSU), which is when a cause cannot be found.

It’s natural if you feel a bit embarrassed or upset about getting urethritis. The symptoms can be tough to deal with. But we can help you start your treatment as soon as possible and it’s worth knowing that you are not alone. NGU is the most common condition diagnosed and treated among men in sexual health clinics across the UK.

Women do not tend to get any symptoms with NGU. But the infections that cause NGU can sometimes spread into your womb or fallopian tubes (the tubes that connect your womb to your ovaries). This can give you a painful condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Some men will not get any symptoms. But if you do get them, they might include: 

  • a white or cloudy discharge from the tip of your penis
  • a burning or painful feeling when you pee
  • irritation and soreness on the tip of your penis

NGU is most likely to be caused by an STI, so anyone who has sex can get it. Your risk is higher if you’ve had sex without a condom or you’ve recently started having sex with someone new. 

Other infections can also cause NGU, such as urinary tract infections. Sometimes, you may not have an infection at all and something else has led to inflammation in your urethra. For example:

  • You’ve used soap or other products that have irritated your genital area.
  • You’ve had damaged your urethra during sex or masturbation.
  • You’ve recently had a catheter inserted in hospital.

NGU cannot be diagnosed with an at-home test so you will need to come to clinic. You may be offered tests for other STIs at the same time. 

To make an appointment you can call us on 0800 328 3383 or find a clinic online. 

Testing for NGU usually means giving a pee sample or having a swab taken. This might be a little uncomfortable, but it is over in seconds, and we will do all we can to put you at ease.

Your treatment plan will depend on the cause of your NGU, if one is found.

NGU is often treated with a short course of antibiotics, which you might need to start before you get your test results. 

It’s important not to have sex until you’ve finished your treatment and you have no symptoms. Your partner must also be treated.

You may be asked to come back to clinic to make sure your treatment has worked. If you are it’s a good idea to go back even if you feel completely better. This is because NGU can keep coming back. 

Because urethritis is often caused by an STI you will need to tell your sexual partner or partners that you have it. You will likely also need to tell every person you’ve had sex with in the last 3 months, but our clinics can give you guidance based on the cause of your urethritis. 

We know you might feel embarrassed or worried about telling people, so we can contact them by text for you. We will not give out your name. You can also call us on 0800 328 3383 for details of this service if you're being treated elsewhere.

Urethritis is usually caused by an STI so having safer sex is the best way to reduce your chances of getting it. This includes using condoms and taking regular STI tests.