Urethra

The tube that carries urine out of the body. In males, it also carries semen.

The urethra is the tube that carries wee from inside your body to the outside. In boys and men, it also carries the fluid that comes out during sex. In girls and women, it's a separate opening from where periods come out.

Simplify

The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. In people with a , it also carries during (though never at the same time as urine — a valve prevents that). In people with a , the urethra is a separate opening from the — a common source of confusion.

The urethra carries urine from the bladder to outside the body.
In people with a penis, it runs through the penis and also carries semen during ejaculation.
In people with a vulva, the urethral opening is a small hole between the and the vaginal opening. It's separate from both.
UTIs (urinary tract infections) happen when bacteria enter the urethra — more common in people with a vulva because the urethra is shorter.

[DIAGRAM: Side-by-side diagrams showing urethra location in male and female anatomy]

The difference between bodies

In people with a penis — the urethra is about 20cm long and runs from the bladder, through the , and along the length of the penis to the opening at the tip of the . It has a dual function: urine and semen both travel through it (at different times).

In people with a vulva — the urethra is much shorter (about 4cm) and opens between the clitoris and the vaginal opening. It only carries urine. The vagina is a completely separate opening — you don't pee from your vagina.

This shorter urethra in people with a vulva is why UTIs are more common — bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to reach the bladder.

UTIs

Urinary tract infections happen when bacteria (usually from the bowel) get into the urethra and travel up to the bladder. Symptoms include needing to pee urgently and frequently, a burning sensation when peeing, and sometimes cloudy or strong-smelling urine. UTIs are very common, easily treated with antibiotics, and not an — though sex can increase the risk by pushing bacteria towards the urethra. Peeing after sex helps flush bacteria out and reduces the risk.

Things people get wrong

"People with a vulva pee from the vagina." They don't. The urethra and the vagina are separate openings. This is one of the most common anatomy misconceptions.

"You can pee and ejaculate at the same time." You can't. During and ejaculation, a valve closes off the connection to the bladder. This is why you might find it harder to pee immediately after ejaculating.

Things people ask about the urethra

Where exactly is the urethral opening on a vulva?

It's a small opening between the clitoris (above) and the vaginal opening (below). It can be hard to see because it's small, but it's there — separate from both.

Why does it burn when I pee?

Burning during urination is usually a sign of a UTI or an STI (like or ). If it happens, see a GP or . It's almost always easily treatable.

Does peeing after sex actually help?

Yes — it helps flush bacteria out of the urethra, reducing the risk of a UTI. It doesn't prevent STIs, but it's a good hygiene habit.

Where to get help

Your GP — for UTI symptoms or pain when peeing.
Sexual health clinics — if burning during urination might be an STI.

The urethra is the tube that carries wee (urine) from where it's stored inside the body (the bladder) out of the body.

In boys and men, this tube runs through the . It carries both wee and the fluid that comes out during sex (), but never at the same time — the body has a switch that stops them mixing.

In girls and women, the tube is much shorter and opens between the legs, in a small separate hole above where come out. This is a really common thing people get confused about — girls and women do not wee from the same opening where periods come out. They're two separate holes.

Because the tube is shorter in girls and women, it's easier for germs to get in and cause an infection. These are called urinary tract infections (UTIs). Signs include needing to wee a lot, a burning feeling when you wee, and wee that smells strong or looks cloudy. UTIs are very common and easily treated with antibiotics from a doctor.

Weeing after sex can help flush germs out of the tube, which lowers the chance of getting a UTI. It doesn't stop sexually passed infections, but it's a good habit.

Penis

The male sexual organ, used for urination and sex. It contains erectile tissue that fills with blood during an erection.

The penis is the body part that boys and men have between their legs. It's used for weeing and for sex. It gets hard when someone is turned on. Penises come in all shapes and sizes, and all are normal.

Vagina

The internal muscular canal connecting the vulva to the cervix. It's elastic and changes size depending on arousal.

The vagina is the stretchy passage inside a girl's or woman's body that connects the outside to the womb. Period blood comes out through it, and it's where a baby passes through during birth. It's different from the outside part, which is called the vulva.