Unable to urinate? It could be due to urethral stricture.
What is an urethral stricture?
First, it’s important to understand the urethra. The urethra is a
tube that carries urine out of your body from the bladder. A urethral
stricture occurs when there is an abnormal narrowing of the urethra, that
can cause the urinary stream to slow or even stop entirely.
Urethral strictures can be caused by trauma or injury to the penis or scrotum,
or from infection. Because men naturally have a longer urethra than women
(it runs the length of the penis), they are at higher risk of developing
urethral strictures.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms of urethral stricture include:
Blood in urine
Blood in semen
Slow or interrupted urine stream
Pain during urination
Stomach aches and pain
Leaking urine
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Swelling or inflammation of the penis
Inability to empty bladder
Straining to void
Diagnosis and treatment of urethral stricture disease
With urethral stricture disease, early diagnosis and treatment are important
for preventing complications and improving outcomes. To diagnose urethral
stricture disease, your provider often will use a cystoscopy (a thin tube
with a small camera) and X-rays. Both a cystoscopy and X-ray help your
provider to see your urethra.
Treatment for urethral stricture disease depends on where and how severe
the stricture is. Your overall health and preferences also are important.
Treatment options include:
Dilation: A healthcare provider inserts a set of tubes, called dilators, into the
urethra. Each tube gets slightly bigger. The procedure helps stretch and
widen the narrow part of the urethra. Dilation can happen in a clinic
or hospital with local anesthesia.
Urethrotomy: With this procedure, under local anesthesia, you get a small incision
in the urethra to widen its narrow part. You may have to repeat the procedure
if the stricture comes back.
Urethroplasty: This is a surgical procedure. A surgeon removes the narrow part of the
urethra and rebuilds it using tissue from other parts of the body. Because
this surgery is more complex, you may need to stay in the hospital to recover.
Self-catheterization: You may need to use a catheter to empty your bladder. Your provider will
guide you on how to use one safely.
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