About urethral stricture

What is urethral stricture?

What is the urethra?

The urethra is the opening that allows urine to leave the bladder. In men, the urethra is a thin tube-like structure that starts from the lower opening of the bladder and traverses the entire length of the penis. In women, it is a shorter opening coming off the lower opening of bladder and is between 2.5 to 4 centimeters (cm) in length.

The urethra has a sphincter that is normally closed to keep urine inside the bladder. When the bladder fills with urine, there are both voluntary and involuntary controls to open the urethral sphincter to allow urine to come out.

What is urethral stricture?

Urethral stricture refers to any narrowing of the urethra for any reason whether or not it actually impacts the flow of urine out of the bladder.

Any inflammation of urethra can result in scarring, which then can lead to a stricture or a narrowing of the urethra. Trauma, infection, tumors, surgeries, or any other cause of scarring may lead to urethral narrowing or stricture. Mechanical narrowing of the urethra without scar formation (developmental causes or prostate enlargement) can also narrow the urethra.

Urethral stricture is significantly more common in men and boys compared to women and girls. This condition is considered rare in females.

What are the symptoms for urethral stricture?

Including inflammation or infectionb symptom was found in the urethral stricture condition

Signs and symptoms of urethral stricture include:

  • Decreased urine stream
  • Incomplete bladder emptying
  • Spraying of the urine stream
  • Difficulty, straining or pain when urinating
  • Increased urge to urinate or more-Frequent urination
  • Urinary tract infection

What are the causes for urethral stricture?

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

  • A medical procedure that involves inserting an instrument, such as an endoscope, into the urethra
  • Intermittent or long-term use of a tube inserted through the urethra to drain the bladder (catheter)
  • Trauma or injury to the urethra or pelvis
  • An enlarged prostate or previous surgery to remove or reduce an enlarged prostate gland
  • Cancer of the urethra or prostate
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Radiation therapy

Urethral stricture is much more common in males than in females. Often the cause is unknown.

What are the treatments for urethral stricture?

Most commonly, urethral strictures are managed by urologists, who are doctors with training and specialization in the urinary system.

What are the risk factors for urethral stricture?

Urethral stricture is the narrowing of the urethra, obstructing fluid flow. It occurs due to the injury to the urethral mucosa and the surrounding tissue.

  • The causes are divided into four groups: idiopathic, iatrogenic, inflammatory, and traumatic; the common causes are prostate cancer treatments, hypospadias surgery, trans-urethral resections, and urethral catheterization.
  • The symptoms include decreased urine stream, incomplete emptying of bladder, spraying of the urine stream, difficulty, straining, or pain during urination, an increased urge to urinate, or more frequent urination, urinary tract infection.
  • Vesicourethral stenosis, bladder neck contracture, oral mucosa grafts, and Permanent urethral stenting are the surgical interventions to treat the condition.


Risk factors

  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Procedures that place a tube into the urethra, such as a catheter, cystoscope, and Trans-urethral resections
  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia - It refers to age-related enlargement of prostate glands.
  • Injury to the pelvic or perineal area - It weakens and loosens the muscle mass around the urethra.
  • Repeated urethritis - It is inflammation of the urethra due to infection or adverse immune responses.
  • History of hypospadias - Hypospadias is an inborn condition in which the male baby has an under-developed urethra.


Conditions
Scarring that narrows the tube that carries urine out of your body (urethra),Restricts the flow of urine from the bladder and can cause a variety of medical problems in the urinary tract, including inflammation or infection
Drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and irritation
Symptoms
Decreased urine stream,Incomplete bladder emptying,Spraying of the urine stream,Difficulty, straining or pain when urinating,Increased urge to urinate or more-frequent urination,Urinary tract infection

Is there a cure/medications for urethral stricture?

Though there are no available drugs to help treat urethral strictures, there are many treatment options depending on the size of the blockage and how much scar tissue is involved.

  • Dilation: This treatment involves enlarging the stricture with gradual stretching using larger and larger dilators called "sounds." It is usually performed in the clinic by giving local anesthesia. Urologists may also use a special balloon on a catheter to stretch the tissue. But this stretching is not a cure and must be repeated regularly. If the stricture comes back too quickly, you may be taught how to insert a catheter from time to time to prevent it from coming back.
  • Urethrotomy: A special scope is moved along the urethra until the stricture is found. Once found, the urologist will cut the stricture and create a gap. A catheter may be placed into the urethra to hold the gap open and let it heal.
  • Open surgery: Many reconstructive procedures have been used to treat strictures; some involve 1 or 2 operations. The 2 main types are anastomotic urethroplasty and substitution urethroplasty. As urethral strictures can come back after surgery, you should be followed by a urologist.


Conditions
Scarring that narrows the tube that carries urine out of your body (urethra),Restricts the flow of urine from the bladder and can cause a variety of medical problems in the urinary tract, including inflammation or infection
Drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and irritation
Symptoms
Decreased urine stream,Incomplete bladder emptying,Spraying of the urine stream,Difficulty, straining or pain when urinating,Increased urge to urinate or more-frequent urination,Urinary tract infection

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