Which term means painful or difficult urination?

• A. Polyuria
• B. Nocturia
• C. Dysuria
• D. Hematuria

Answer: (C)

Painful or difficult urination is described by the term dysuria. The dys- prefix conveys difficulty or pain, and -uria refers to urine or urination, so together they denote a painful or difficult urination experience. This term is used when patients report a burning sensation, a sense of urgency, or discomfort during urination, often linked to infections, irritation, stones, or prostatitis. By comparison, polyuria means urinating an abnormally large amount of urine; nocturia means waking at night to urinate; and hematuria means blood in the urine.