What causes painful urination (dysuria)?

The most common cause of painful urination (dysuria) is infection of the bladder or urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder). Bacterial bladder infections are more likely to occur in women than men. Infections of the urethra called urethritis require evaluation for a sexual transmitted infection, such as Chlamydia or gonorrhea. Non-infectious inflammation of the urethra or bladder (such as interstitial cystitis) can also cause dysuria. Another cause of dysuria is a herpes simplex infection of the genitalia.