Urethral stricture
From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia
Narrowing of the lumen of the urethra.
Causes of urethral stricture[edit | edit source]
- Scar tissue from surgery.
- Infection
- Injury
- Tumor
Other factors[edit | edit source]
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- Urethral catheter or cystoscope
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- Injury to the pelvic area
- Repeated urethritis
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
- Blood in the semen
- Discharge from the urethra
- Bloody or dark urine
- Strong urge to urinate and frequent urination
- Inability to empty bladder (urinary retention)
- Painful urination or difficulty urinating
- Loss of bladder control
- Increased frequency or urgency to urinate
- Pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic area
- Slow urine stream (may develop suddenly or gradually) or spraying of urine
- Swelling of the penis
Physical examination[edit | edit source]
- A physical exam may show the following:
- Decreased urinary stream
- Discharge from the urethra
- Enlarged bladder
- Enlarged or tender lymph nodes in the groin
- Enlarged or tender prostate
- Hardness on the under surface of the penis
- Redness or swelling of the penis
- Sometimes, the exam reveals no abnormalities.
Investigations[edit | edit source]
- Cystoscopy
- Postvoid residual (PVR) volume
- Retrograde urethrogram
- Tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea
- Urinalysis
- Urinary flow rate
- Urine culture
Treatment[edit | edit source]
- The urethra may be dilated during cystoscopy.
- An open urethroplasty may be done for longer strictures.
- If no other treatments work, a urinary diversion called an appendicovesicostomy (Mitrofanoff procedure) or another type of surgery may be done. This lets you drain your bladder through the wall of the abdomen using a catheter or a stoma bag.
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
- The outcome is often excellent with treatment.
- Urethral stricture may totally block urine flow.
Prevention[edit | edit source]
- Practicing safer sex may decrease the risk of getting STIs and urethral stricture.
- Treating urethral stricture quickly may prevent kidney or bladder complications.
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD, Dr.T