It stings when I pee · For ages 8–12
Why does it sting or hurt when I pee?
If it burns, stings or hurts when you pee, you can tell an adult about it. There may be several reasons.
About what you notice
What is happening?
Perhaps it stings or burns when you pee, or you need to go to the toilet much more often than before. You should tell an adult so that you can get help finding out why.
Pee is also called urine. Urine is made by the kidneys, two organs towards the back of your tummy, one on each side. Organs are parts of the body with specific jobs. The kidneys clean the blood and remove waste substances and extra water. This becomes urine.
Urine collects in the bladder, a kind of pouch inside your body low in your tummy. When you pee, it travels through a small tube called the urethra and leaves through the urethral opening between your legs. This is a different opening from the one your period comes from.
One possible reason for stinging is that bacteria have entered the urinary tract. Bacteria are so tiny that you need a microscope to see them. Many are helpful or harmless, but some can make us ill if they get somewhere they do not belong. When bacteria multiply and cause symptoms in the urinary tract, it is called a urinary tract infection.
It may also sting if urine touches sore or irritated skin around the opening. That is why stinging alone cannot tell us the cause. A doctor may ask you to pee into a small cup. This is called a urine sample and can help the doctor find out what is happening.
Tell an adult immediately if you also have a fever, vomit, develop pain in your back or side, or feel very unwell. Then you need medical help quickly.
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Which sounds most like what you notice?
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Why does it sting or hurt when I pee?
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Important to know
Urine is made in the kidneys. These are two organs towards the back of the tummy that clean the blood and remove waste substances and extra water. Urine travels to the bladder, where it is stored until you pee.
When you pee, it travels through the urethra and out through a small opening between your legs. The urethral opening and vaginal opening are two separate openings.
The urinary tract consists of the parts of your body that make, store and release urine. If bacteria enter, multiply and cause illness, this is called a urinary tract infection. Bacteria are tiny and need a microscope to be seen.
The infection may be in the bladder, which stores pee. This is often called cystitis. A doctor can examine a urine sample and decide whether you need treatment.
It may sting or burn when you pee. You may feel you need to pee much more often than before or urgently need the toilet. Your urine may also smell different or look cloudy.
Try explaining whether it stings while pee is coming out or whether the skin on the outside stings when it gets wet. Both are important to mention. Smell and colour alone cannot tell you what is wrong. An adult can help you get it assessed.
Needing to pee much more often than usual may be a sign that the urinary tract is irritated or that you have a urinary tract infection. Tell an adult if this started suddenly or happens together with stinging or pain.
Sometimes only a little pee comes out even when you feel a strong urge to go. Tell a teacher if you need to leave the classroom. You should be able to use the toilet when you need to. Ask an adult at home or school to help with the symptoms.
Blood in urine may make your pee look pink, red or darker than usual. It is important to tell an adult if you think blood is coming out with your pee, so a doctor can help find where it is coming from.
Explain whether you saw blood in the toilet, on the paper or in your underwear. It may be difficult to know where it came from. You do not need to examine inside your body to find the answer. An adult and a doctor can help distinguish between possible causes.
If the doctor thinks you might have a urinary tract infection, you may be asked to pee a little into a small cup. This is called a urine sample. It can be tested for signs of infection.
Someone will explain how the urine sample is collected. Ask if anything is unclear and say if you need help. A urine sample usually means just peeing a little into a sample container. The result and what you tell the doctor about your symptoms help them decide what care you need.
Tell an adult immediately if you have stinging or pain together with a fever, feel very unwell, vomit or have pain in your side or back. A doctor should assess what is happening promptly.
What next?
What can you do next?
You can say: 'It stings when I pee', 'I need to pee all the time' or 'My pee looks different.' You do not need to know whether it is a urinary tract infection. An adult and doctor can help find out.
Ask an adult to help contact your GP. If help is urgent and your GP is unavailable, you can call the out-of-hours medical service on 116 117.
Sources
These are the sources used for this article. Some are written for teenagers, adults or healthcare professionals.