A mild burning or stinging sensation can occur when you first pass urine after your catheter is removed following robotic radical prostatectomy. Your urethra has contained a catheter for several days and may remain temporarily irritated, so mild discomfort can continue for a short period and may last for a day or two.
Your symptoms should gradually improve rather than become more severe. If your burning persists, worsens or occurs with fever, shivering, cloudy or unpleasant-smelling urine, increasing pain or difficulty passing urine, you should contact your clinical team because infection, urinary retention or another postoperative problem may need to be excluded.
Why Does Urination Burn After Surgery?
Your urethra has recently contained a catheter, while the tissues around your bladder and urinary channel are still healing after surgery. Temporary irritation can therefore make passing urine sting.
This is particularly common immediately after catheter removal. You may notice the discomfort gradually settle as your urinary tissues continue to heal.
Can the Catheter Irritate the Urethra?
Yes. A urinary catheter passes through your urethra into the bladder and can temporarily irritate these tissues.
Catheters can also contribute to inflammation, bleeding and urinary infection.
Is Burning Normal After Catheter Removal?
Mild burning or stinging can be normal for a short time after your urinary catheter is removed. NHS catheter-removal guidance advises that slight stinging may continue for a day or two while your urethra settles.
Your discomfort should become less noticeable rather than progressively worse. If your burning remains troublesome beyond the expected early period, becomes severe or develops alongside other urinary or general symptoms, you should contact your surgical team or GP.
How Long Should the Burning Last?
Mild stinging caused by temporary catheter irritation is usually short-lived. NHS catheter-removal guidance commonly advises that slight stinging can continue for approximately one or two days after the catheter is removed, although individual recovery can vary.
Contact your clinical team if the burning is not settling, becomes increasingly painful or occurs with fever, shivering, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, worsening bleeding or difficulty passing urine. Persistent or worsening symptoms should be assessed rather than assumed to be part of normal healing.
Can Concentrated Urine Make It Worse?
Concentrated urine may feel more uncomfortable when it passes over irritated tissues. Drinking an appropriate amount of fluid can dilute your urine and may help reduce temporary stinging.
- Urine concentration: Darker, more concentrated urine may cause greater discomfort when passing over irritated tissues
- Adequate hydration: Drinking enough fluid can help dilute your urine and may reduce temporary stinging
- Fluid restrictions: Follow any individual fluid restrictions or hydration advice provided by your medical team
- Individual needs: The amount of fluid you should drink can vary depending on your health and recovery
- Clinical advice: Ask your clinical team if you are unsure how much fluid is appropriate for you
Staying appropriately hydrated may help make urination more comfortable while irritated tissues recover. However, you should follow the fluid advice given by your medical team rather than increasing your intake beyond what has been recommended.
Should You Drink More Water?
You should usually maintain regular fluid intake after your catheter is removed so that you remain well hydrated. Your surgical team may give you a specific fluid target during the first few days, and you should follow this rather than assuming that more fluid is always better.
If you have been given a fluid restriction or have a medical condition that affects fluid intake, you should follow that advice. Drinking water can support normal urine flow, but it cannot treat a urinary infection by itself.
Can a Urinary Infection Cause Burning?
Yes. Burning when you pass urine can be a symptom of a urinary tract infection. If symptoms develop while you have a catheter or within 48 hours of its removal, NICE classifies an infection meeting the relevant criteria as a catheter-associated UTI. A urinary infection can also develop later during your postoperative recovery.
If infection is suspected after your catheter has been removed, a midstream urine sample should normally be obtained before antibiotics are started, where possible. NICE recommends sending the sample for culture and susceptibility testing so that treatment can be reviewed according to the bacteria identified and their antibiotic sensitivities.
What Other UTI Symptoms Should You Watch For?
You should seek medical advice if your burning is accompanied by symptoms such as increasing urinary frequency or urgency, lower abdominal discomfort, cloudy or blood-stained urine, strong-smelling urine, fever, chills or pain in your back. Feeling substantially unwell is particularly important.
No single urine change confirms an infection by itself. Your clinician will consider your combination of symptoms and may arrange a urine test before deciding whether you need antibiotics.
Does Fever Make Infection More Likely?
If you develop a raised temperature, shaking or shivering, or feel significantly unwell alongside urinary symptoms, you should obtain prompt medical assessment. These symptoms may indicate a more significant urinary infection rather than simple catheter irritation.
If you become severely unwell, confused, faint, very breathless or otherwise appear to have signs of a serious infection, you should seek emergency medical help rather than waiting for a routine postoperative appointment.
Can Blood and Burning Occur Together?
A small amount of blood can occur around the time of catheter removal while the urinary tract is still healing. However, blood with worsening burning, fever or other infection symptoms should be assessed.
You should contact your clinical team if these symptoms occur together. They can determine whether the symptoms are part of normal healing or could indicate an infection or another problem.
Can Bladder Spasms Cause Discomfort?
Bladder irritation from a catheter can cause spasms or a sudden urge to urinate. These sensations may occur alongside discomfort around the urinary tract.
They usually become less troublesome once the catheter is removed and the bladder settles. If the discomfort becomes severe or persists, you should contact your clinical team.
What If You Need to Urinate Very Frequently?
Frequency and urgency can occur temporarily after catheter removal while your bladder readjusts. These symptoms should gradually improve.
Increasing frequency combined with strong burning, cloudy urine or fever may indicate infection. You should contact your clinical team if these symptoms develop or become more severe.
What If Your Urine Stream Is Weak?
Your urine stream may feel different immediately after catheter removal, and temporary irritation can affect how comfortable urination feels. However, you should tell your clinical team if your stream becomes progressively weaker, you have to strain, your flow repeatedly stops and starts or you feel that your bladder is not emptying properly.
Persistent or worsening difficulty can require a bladder scan or other assessment. You should not repeatedly strain to force your urine out because your surgical team may need to check whether you are retaining urine or whether another postoperative problem is present.
What If You Cannot Pass Urine?
If you cannot pass urine after your catheter has been removed, you need prompt medical assessment. Your bladder may be retaining urine, and your healthcare team may need to perform a bladder scan and decide whether temporary re-catheterisation or another intervention is required.
Do not repeatedly strain to urinate or attempt to insert a catheter yourself. Contact your prostatectomy team or an urgent medical service according to your discharge instructions, particularly if your bladder feels increasingly full or painful.
Should You Take Antibiotics Yourself?
No. You should not use leftover antibiotics or someone else’s medication. If an infection is suspected, your clinician may arrange a urine test and prescribe the appropriate antibiotic if needed.
Using Antibiotics Safely
| Situation | What It Means | What To Do |
| Suspected infection | You may have symptoms that need assessment | Contact your clinical team |
| Urine testing | A urine sample may be needed to identify infection | Provide the sample as advised |
| Prescribed antibiotics | Your clinician has selected treatment for you | Take them exactly as instructed |
| Leftover antibiotics | Previous medication may not be suitable | Do not use them without medical advice |
| Someone else’s antibiotics | The medicine may not be appropriate for your condition | Never take another person’s medication |
| Symptoms continue | Infection symptoms may not improve as expected | Contact your clinical team for further advice |
Can Drinks Make Burning Feel Worse?
Caffeine, alcohol and some fizzy drinks can make urinary urgency or bladder irritation more noticeable in some men. Water is usually a simpler choice during early recovery.
You can gradually return to your usual drinks as symptoms settle if your surgical team has not advised otherwise. If a particular drink consistently worsens your symptoms, you may wish to avoid it temporarily.
Should You Avoid Strenuous Activity?
Follow your postoperative restrictions while the bladder-to-urethra connection and surrounding tissues heal. Heavy exercise or lifting should not be resumed simply because the catheter has been removed.
Gentle walking is usually more appropriate during early recovery. You should gradually increase your activity according to the instructions provided by your surgical team.
When Should You Contact Your Surgical Team?
You should contact your surgical team if your burning becomes worse rather than better, continues beyond the expected early recovery period or occurs with cloudy or strong-smelling urine, increasing urinary frequency, worsening blood in your urine, lower abdominal discomfort or difficulty emptying your bladder.
You should also obtain prompt advice if you develop fever, chills or shivering or begin to feel generally unwell. Your team may need to arrange a urine test, bladder assessment or other investigations rather than assuming your symptoms are caused solely by catheter irritation.
Which Symptoms Need Urgent Assessment?
You need urgent assessment if you are unable to pass urine after catheter removal, develop severe or increasing lower abdominal pain, or have urinary symptoms accompanied by fever, shaking chills or significant deterioration in how you feel.
You should seek emergency help if you become severely unwell, collapse, become confused or unresponsive, develop severe breathing difficulty or have other features suggesting a serious systemic infection. You should tell the healthcare team that you have recently undergone robotic radical prostatectomy and had a urinary catheter removed.
Key Takeaways
- You may experience mild stinging for a short period after your catheter is removed.
- Your discomfort should gradually improve rather than become progressively worse.
- You should drink enough fluid to avoid dehydration unless your medical team has given you a fluid restriction.
- Your persistent burning may require a urine test to check for infection.
- Your cloudy or strong-smelling urine does not prove infection by itself.
- You should seek prompt advice if burning occurs with fever, shivering, worsening pain or feeling significantly unwell.
- You should contact your surgical team promptly if your urine stream becomes increasingly difficult.
- You need urgent assessment if you cannot pass urine after catheter removal.
- You should not take leftover antibiotics or someone else’s medication.
- You should follow your own prostatectomy discharge instructions because postoperative pathways can vary between surgical centres.
Myth vs Fact
| Myth | What You Should Know |
| Burning means you definitely have an infection. | Your mild burning may simply reflect catheter irritation, particularly during the first day or two. |
| Your cloudy urine automatically means you need antibiotics. | Your clinician should consider your symptoms and urine testing rather than treating appearance alone. |
| You should drink as much water as possible. | You should stay appropriately hydrated without forcing excessive fluid or ignoring your medical restrictions. |
| Your weak stream is always normal after surgery. | You should report persistent or worsening difficulty because your bladder emptying may need assessment. |
| You should wait for severe pain before reporting inability to urinate. | You need prompt assessment if you cannot pass urine after catheter removal. |
| Leftover antibiotics are reasonable after surgery. | You should only take antibiotics selected for your current suspected infection by a healthcare professional. |
| Blood and burning are always harmless after catheter removal. | Your small amount of early bleeding may occur, but worsening bleeding with pain, fever or difficulty urinating should be assessed. |
| Fever is part of normal catheter irritation. | Your fever or shaking chills require prompt medical advice because infection needs to be considered. |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is burning urine normal after your robotic prostate surgery?
You may experience mild burning or stinging after your urinary catheter is removed because your urethra has been temporarily irritated. Your symptoms should become progressively less noticeable.
2. How long can your burning last after catheter removal?
Your mild catheter-related stinging may last for a short period, commonly around a day or two. You should contact your clinical team if your symptoms persist, become worse or develop alongside other concerning symptoms.
3. Can your catheter cause burning when you urinate?
Yes. Your catheter passes through your urethra and can temporarily irritate the tissue, which may make your first period of urination after removal uncomfortable.
4. Can your urinary infection cause burning?
Yes. Your burning may be caused by a urinary tract infection, particularly when it occurs with increasing frequency, lower abdominal discomfort, fever, chills or abnormal-looking or strong-smelling urine.
5. Does cloudy or strong-smelling urine mean that you have a UTI?
Not necessarily. Your clinician should consider your symptoms together and may request a urine sample because urine appearance or smell alone does not confirm a symptomatic infection.
6. Can drinking water help your burning?
You should drink enough to remain appropriately hydrated because concentrated urine may be more uncomfortable. You should follow any fluid restriction given by your medical team rather than drinking excessive amounts.
7. Is some blood normal after your catheter is removed?
A small amount of bleeding can occur during the early period after catheter removal. You should contact your clinical team if bleeding becomes heavier, persists or occurs with worsening pain, fever or difficulty passing urine.
8. What should you do if your urine stream becomes weak?
You should contact your clinical team if your stream becomes progressively weaker, you need to strain or you feel unable to empty your bladder. Your bladder function may need to be checked.
9. What should you do if you cannot pass urine?
You need prompt medical assessment if you cannot pass urine after your catheter has been removed. Your bladder may need to be scanned and temporarily drained again with a catheter.
10. When should you seek urgent medical advice?
You should seek urgent assessment if you cannot pass urine or develop severe pain, fever, shaking chills or significant deterioration in how you feel. You should seek emergency help if you become severely unwell, collapse, become confused or develop severe breathing difficulty.
Final Thoughts: Burning Urine After Robotic Prostate Surgery
Mild burning after your catheter is removed can occur during early recovery from robotic radical prostatectomy and will often settle within a short period. Your symptoms should gradually improve, and you should remain appropriately hydrated while following the postoperative instructions provided by your surgical team.
If burning persists or worsens, or you develop fever, shivering, difficulty passing urine or other concerning symptoms, seek medical assessment rather than assuming that the problem is normal healing. If you are looking for a robotic prostate surgery clinic in London, you can contact us at Prostate Clinic London to arrange a consultation and receive personalised advice about your symptoms, recovery and treatment options.
References
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2023) Robotic radical prostatectomy: frequently-asked questions. Approved 2 May 2023. Available at: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/robotic-radical-prostatectomy-frequently-asked-questions/
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2024) Robotic radical prostatectomy: pre- and post-operative information. Approved 10 May 2024. Available at: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/robotic-radical-prostatectomy/
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (2023) Going home after removal of urinary catheter (TWOC clinic). Approved 6 December 2023. Available at: https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information-library/going-home-after-removal-urinary-catheter-twoc-clinic
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (no date) Discharge information following a robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Review due January 2027. Available at: https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/your-visit/patient-information-leaflets/discharge-information-following-a-robotic-assisted-laparoscopic-prostatectomy/
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (no date) Robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Review due January 2027. Available at: https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/your-visit/patient-information-leaflets/robotic-assisted-laparoscopic-radical-prostatectomy/
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2018) Urinary tract infection (catheter-associated): antimicrobial prescribing. NICE guideline NG113. Last reviewed 18 April 2019. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng113
- NHS (2025) Urinary tract infections (UTIs). Page last reviewed 11 July 2025. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/
- Prostate Cancer UK (2024) Surgery: radical prostatectomy. Updated July 2024. Available at: https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/treatments/surgery
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2026) Robotic prostatectomy. Page last updated 4 March 2026. Available at: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information-pages/robotic-prostatectomy
- NHS (2026) Sepsis. Page last reviewed 14 May 2026. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/