Kelly Burch is a freelance journalist who has covered health topics for more than 10 years. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more.

Monique Rainford, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, and currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale Medicine. She is the former chief of obstetrics-gynecology at Yale Health.

Painful, burning sensations during urination could be a urinary tract infection (UTI) or one of the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that feel like a UTI. STIs (sometimes referred to as STDs or sexually transmitted diseases), including chlamydia and gonorrhea, can cause burning during urination and pelvic pain similar to UTI symptoms. Identifying whether symptoms indicate an STI vs. UTI can be tricky. 

Continue reading to learn more about the symptoms and differences between an STI and a UTI, as well as when you should see a healthcare provider.  

STIs are infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual contact, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex. Some STIs can also be passed through close touching and skin-to-skin contact. STIs can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Frequent or painful urination is a common symptom of STIs.  However, other STI symptoms can differ depending on anatomy. It’s also common to have an STI that has no symptoms at all. 

The common symptoms of STIs in people with a penis are:

The common symptoms of STIs in people with a vagina are:

Even STIs without symptoms can be passed to partners and cause damage to your long-term reproductive health. If you’re sexually active, regular STI screenings are an important part of preventive healthcare. 

Urinary tract infections happen when bacteria enter the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the vulva or penis. UTIs can happen to anyone, including children, and they are not STIs. However, having sex increases your risk for UTIs, particularly for people with vaginas.

The symptoms of a UTI are the same regardless of sex. They include:

Sometimes, a UTI can travel from the bladder to the kidneys. If you develop a kidney infection you may experience:

Without medical testing, determining whether you have a UTI or an STI can be difficult. While painful and frequent urination are symptoms of both conditions, your other symptoms can indicate the sort of infection you have.  

For example, if you have discharge or skin changes like blisters, you’re more likely to have an STI, The urge to pee when your bladder is empty may indicate a UTI. 

Both UTIs and STIs need to be treated by a medical professional. If you have a UTI, you’ll likely need treatment with antibiotics, which will kill the bacteria in your urinary tract. The treatment for STIs will depend on what infection you have and may include antibiotics. 

When you visit your healthcare provider for UTI or STI symptoms, you will likely undergo a physical exam, which includes an examination of your pelvis or genitals. Your healthcare provider may also order a urine test, which can be used to diagnose a UTI and some STIs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea.

If they suspect a different STD, they may swab your genitals to look for bacteria or viruses under a microscope. They may also order a blood test. 

UTIs and STIs can both cause painful, frequent urination. Your other symptoms can offer a clue to whether you have an STI or UTI. STIs are more likely to cause discharge from your genitals, while UTIs can cause a need to urinate even when your bladder is empty.

Both conditions require medical treatment, so whenever you experience painful urination it’s best to reach out to your healthcare provider so that you can get a prompt diagnosis and treatment. 

Talking to a healthcare provider about your sexual health and your genitals can be uncomfortable. Just remember, they've seen it all. Both UTIs and STIs are common and are nothing to be ashamed of. Getting treatment quickly can help you feel better, so don’t delay. 

Chlamydia can cause painful, burning urination that feels like a UTI. However, most people with chlamydia don’t have symptoms. It’s possible to pass along the infection, even if you’re asymptomatic. 

Chlamydia is not usually detected on a test given to diagnose a UTI but urine can be used to test for chlamydia. If you’re concerned about chlamydia, let your healthcare provider know.

Gonorrhea cannot cause a UTI because they are two different infections. However, gonorrhea can have symptoms that are similar to those of a UTI, including pain during urination.

Urology Care Foundation. What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or diseases (STDs)?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Urinary tract infection.

Nemours. Why am I getting urinary tract infections?

Sutton TL, Martinko T, Hale S, Fairchok MP. Prevalence and high rate of asymptomatic infection of Chlamydia trachomatis in male college Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets. Sex Transm Dis. 2003;30(12):901-4. doi:10.1097/01.OLQ.0000091136.14932.8B

Meyer T. Diagnostic procedures to detect chlamydia trachomatis infections. Microorganisms. 2016;4(3):25. doi:10.3390/microorganisms4030025

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Detailed STI facts—gonorrhea.

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.