Last Updated on April 30, 2025
What is the Urethra, and what is its Role in Intercourse? Can a penis enter the urethra?
The female urethra is the tube that leads from the bladder to the urinary meatus, which is its terminal (external) sphincter. In other words, it is the ‘hose’ through which urine is passed out. In males, it also serves as the tube through which semen is released (ejaculation).
Understanding the Anatomy of the Female Urethra
The female urethra is approximately 3–4 cm (1.5 inches) in length, whereas in males it is approximately 18-20cm (7-8 inches) in length to account for the length of the penis.The female urethra is surrounded by muscles and tissues that help keep everything in place and working well
Does the Urethra Function During Sexual Activity?
In females, the urethra ‘lays’ there passively, above and parallel to the vagina, without having a sexual function. However, the movement of the penis inside the vagina during sexual intercourse will rub the urethra’s underside, which is cushioned by estrogenic tissue as if it were bubble wrap.
Note: a decline in the woman’s estrogenic state, such as during menopause or if taking suppression medication for breast cancer, may compromise this bubble wrap cushioning and result in pain. But, there are solutions to this so discuss with your healthcare provider.
Can The Penis Enter the Urethra?
NO! Because…
The act of sexual intercourse is ‘automatically’ positioning the penis toward the vagina and not upward toward the urethra, and because
The woman will know if the penis is ‘aiming’ at the urethra as it will cause a pain and a reflexive reaction by the woman to push it away, and because,
The diameter of the female urethra is only 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) and cannot possibly fit a penis.
Common Misconceptions About Entering the Urethra During Intercourse
A penis can enter the urethra during sexual intercourse.
Impossible! The urethra is way too small to accommodate a penis of any size.
Urethral stimulation is a component of having sex.
The urethra is NOT a sexual organ nor a component of sexual stimulation.
Discomfort in the urethra means that the penis got inside it.
The discomfort may be due to the friction of the penis during thrusting, or a possible urinary tract infection but never because the penis got inside it.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) means that the penis touched or entered my urethra.
While the tip of the penis may touch or press against the urinary sphincter, it would not typically ‘give’ the woman a UTI. However, excessive friction against the area as well as insufficient lubrication may cause too much chafing that may develop into a UTI.
What Can Enter the Female Urethra?
The function of the urethra is to pass urine from the bladder to the outside but accept nothing into it with the exception of medical instruments, such a catheter, for medical procedures or for emptying the bladder when this function is impaired.
