Description

A urethral (u-REE-thrul) stricture involves scarring that narrows the tube that carries urine out of the body, called the urethra. As a result of stenosis, less urine comes out of the bladder. This can cause problems in the urinary tract, such as infection.

Symptoms

The symptoms of urethral stricture can include:

  • Weak urine stream.
  • The bladder does not empty all the way.
  • Spraying urine.
  • Finding it difficult or painful urination.
  • To urinate more often or feeling the need to urinate more often.
  • Urinary tract infection.

Causes

Scar tissue, which can narrow the urethra, may be due to:

  • A medical procedure that involves putting a tool, such as an endoscope, into the urethra.
  • A tube that is put into the urethra to drain the bladder, called a catheter.
  • Trauma or injury to the urethra or of the pelvis.
  • An enlarged prostate or have had surgery to remove or reduce the enlargement of the prostate gland.
  • Cancer of the urethra or prostate.
  • Sexually transmitted infections.
  • The radiation therapy.
  • A skin condition that causes irregular color, thin skin that often affects the genital area, called lichen sclerosis.

The urethral stricture is more common in men than in women. Often, the cause is unknown.

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, a member of your health care team will ask you questions about your symptoms and your medical history and perform an examination. Tests that can help you to find out when the stenosis is to say, how much it is and what causes might include:

  • Urine tests. These seek the infection, or blood cancer in the urine.
  • The flow of urine test. This measures the flow of urine, and of how strong he is.
  • The urethra of ultrasound. This shows how long the stenosis is.
  • Pelvic ultrasound. This looks to see if there is still urine in the bladder after emptying it.
  • PelvicMRIscan. This is seen in the bone of the pelvis to see how it is involved with the condition.
  • Retrograde urethrogram. This test uses X-ray imaging to look for a problem or injury of the urethra. It also shows how long the stenosis is and where is.
  • The cystoscopy. This uses a thin, tubular tool that has a lens, called a cystoscope. The tool looks at the inside of the urethra and the bladder.

Treatment

The treatment depends on the type of stenosis, its size and the severity of the symptoms. Treatments may include:

  • Catheterization. Place a small tube called a catheter into the bladder to drain the urine is often the first step for the treatment of obstruction of the urine. Antibiotics for the treatment of an infection if there is one. Self-catheterization may be an option for people diagnosed with a short stenosis.
  • The expansion, called dilation. This begins with a small wire through the urethra into the bladder. Larger and larger dilators pass the cable to increase the size of the opening of the urethra a little bit. This outpatient procedure can be an option for the treatment of recurrent urethral strictures.
  • Urethroplasty.This involves the surgical removal of the artery section of the urethra or making it bigger. The procedure may also involve the reconstruction of the tissues around the urethra. Tissues from other areas of the body, such as the skin or the mouth, can be used as a graft during the process. The possibility of urethral stricture back after a urethroplasty is low.
  • Urethrotomy endoscopy.This procedure uses a thin, tubular tool that has a lens, called a cystoscope. The cystoscope enters the urethra. Then, a tool that is put through the cystoscope to remove the stenosis or treat it with a laser. This surgical procedure has a faster recovery than do some other procedures. Do not leave much to the healing, and the risk of infection is low. However, the urethral stricture may come back after this procedure.
  • Implanted stent or long-term catheter.This treatment could be for people with a severe stenosis who do not want surgery. A tube, called a stent, is placed in the urethra to keep it open, Or a permanent catheter is put in to drain the bladder. These procedures have a risk of bladder irritation, discomfort, and urinary tract infections. They also need to be monitored very closely. Urethral stents are rarely used.

Urethroplasty. This involves the surgical removal of the artery section of the urethra or making it bigger. The procedure may also involve the reconstruction of the tissues around the urethra.

Tissues from other areas of the body, such as the skin or the mouth, can be used as a graft during the process. The possibility of urethral stricture back after a urethroplasty is low.

Urethrotomy endoscopy. This procedure uses a thin, tubular tool that has a lens, called a cystoscope. The cystoscope enters the urethra. Then, a tool that is put through the cystoscope to remove the stenosis or treat it with a laser.

This surgical procedure has a faster recovery than do some other procedures. Do not leave much to the healing, and the risk of infection is low. However, the urethral stricture may come back after this procedure.

Implanted stent or long-term catheter. This treatment could be for people with a severe stenosis who do not want surgery. A tube, called a stent, is placed in the urethra to keep it open, Or a permanent catheter is put in to drain the bladder.

These procedures have a risk of bladder irritation, discomfort, and urinary tract infections. They also need to be monitored very closely. Urethral stents are rarely used.

Symptoms and treatment of Urethral stricture