Growing lump over the urethra: what is it?

Author: Aunt Vadge
Qualified Naturopath | BHSc(N)

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Dear Aunt Vadge,

I’ve been having UTIs on and off for a few years. But 10 months ago I noticed a lump growing just below the urethral opening, and now it covers it. The opening is still there, but this protruding lump sits over it – below the urethra and above the vaginal opening, making the vaginal opening even smaller.

The main problem is a very, very sharp pain when I urinate, like something is tearing inside. I saw a urologist and had a blood test, culture, cystoscopy, MRI and urethral dilation. At first I also couldn’t empty my bladder completely and had to push urine out.

The urologist diagnosed DSD and gave me pelvic muscle relaxers. When I asked about the lump, he said it’s nothing to worry about. I can empty my bladder to an extent now, but the lump has got bigger and is causing problems.

Over 10 months it has got worse.
The urologist diagnosed DSD and gave me pelvic muscle relaxers; the lump still exists.
The pain is very sharp and lingers a while even after urinating, with pelvic pain just below the urethral opening. Stress seems to trigger it more, and the lump gets hard and very painful.
No discharge.
No bleeding.
Pink, same as the area around it, about the size of a small pea, hard, and even harder when I urinate.
Sometimes when urinating isn’t painful, the lump isn’t as hard.

It makes urinating painful, so I sometimes avoid going to the bathroom, and I’m scared it will affect my kidneys. I’ve been searching online for months with no luck – I found other people asking about this on forums, but no answers. I’d really like some idea of what this is.

Sincerely,
Lumpy
India, age 22

Dear Lumpy,

Thank you for such a clear description and the diagram – it really helps. You’ve got a lot going on, so let’s lay out the possibilities, because a hard lump that has been growing over your urethra for 10 months is not something to just live with, whatever you’ve been told.

First, one thing I want to say plainly: please don’t hold your wee to avoid the pain. Holding on lets urine sit and stagnate, which invites infection and, over time, can put pressure back towards the kidneys – exactly what you’re afraid of. It’s kinder to your body to go when you need to, even though it hurts, while you get the lump properly sorted.

DSD (detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia) is a neurological condition, part of a neurogenic bladder, where the signals coordinating the bladder and the urethral sphincter don’t fire in sync – normally the bladder contracts as the sphincter relaxes to let urine out, and in DSD that coordination is disrupted. It’s usually linked to lesions on the spinal cord or brain, which is why it’s worth knowing why your urologist reached that diagnosis, as you don’t mention a cause.

But DSD doesn’t explain a visible, growing lump – and that’s the part I’d chase hardest. A few things can produce exactly what you’re describing:

A urethral caruncle – a benign, fleshy pink lump right at the urethral opening that can be tender.
A urethral prolapse, where the layers of the urethra slip when the tissue that holds them together weakens.
A urethral diverticulum or a Skene’s gland cyst or abscess – the Skene’s glands sit just beside and below the urethra, and if one blocks it can swell, push on the urethra, fill with urine and go hard, especially after weeing. That fits your ‘harder when I urinate’ description well.

Any of these can cause a lump plus sharp pain on urination, and some are easy to miss, so they’re worth naming out loud to your team. Read the symptom lists on those pages and see what matches.

My strongest steer is this: a lump that a urologist dismissed as ‘nothing’ but that has kept growing and hurting for 10 months deserves a second opinion, ideally from a urogynaecologist – a specialist in exactly this overlap of urinary and vaginal anatomy. Take this list with you and ask specifically whether a urethral diverticulum, Skene’s cyst, caruncle or prolapse has been ruled out. At 22, with no injury, you should not have an unexplained, growing, painful lump, and you’re completely right to keep pushing for an answer.

Get seen promptly rather than waiting if you develop fever, back or flank pain, blood in your urine, or you can’t pass urine at all – those need urgent care.

Keep going – you’re advocating for yourself brilliantly. Do write back and let us know what they find.

Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge

This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice.