All You Need to Know About Urethritis

Urethritis is a disorder that causes the urethra, or the tube that transports pee from the bladder to the outside of the body, to become inflamed and irritating. Sperm is also transported by the male urethra.

People of all ages are affected by urethritis. The illness can affect both men and women. Females, on the other hand, are more likely than males to develop the infection. It is because men’s urethras, which run the length of the penis, are significantly longer than women’s. The urethra of a woman is usually one and a half inches in length. It allows bacteria to enter the urethra more easily.

Urethritis Signs and Symptoms

Male Symptoms

Males suffering from urethritis may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

• a burning sensation when urinating
• itching or burning near the penis opening
• the presence of blood in sperm or urine
• expulsion from the penis

Women’s Symptoms

Among the signs of urethritis in women are:

• a greater desire to urinate
• pain during urinating
• irritation or burning at the urethral opening
• In addition to urinary symptoms, abnormal vaginal discharge may be present.

People with urethritis may not exhibit any symptoms at all. If the urethritis was caused by chlamydia or, less frequently, trichomoniasis, symptoms might be absent in men.

What Exactly Causes Urethritis?

A bacterial or viral infection causes most cases of urethritis. The most prevalent cause is bacteria. The germs that cause bladder and kidney infections can also infect the urethral lining. Bacteria found in the vaginal area might induce urethritis if they enter the urinary tract.

Bacteria linked to urethritis include:

• gonorrhoeae
• Tracemydia trachomatis
• Mycoplasma genitalium

Pathogens are disease-causing biological agents. Urethritis can be caused by the same microorganisms that cause STIs. These include the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea and chlamydia and the parasite responsible for trichomoniasis.

Various viruses might cause urethritis to develop. Human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and cytomegalovirus are examples (CMV).

Urethritis Types

There are various types of urethritis based on the etiology of the disease. There are three types of urethritis:

• Gonorrhea urethritis: It causes gonococcal urethritis.
• Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU): It is caused by a different organism than gonorrhea. It could be due to another form of STI or persistent urethral discomfort.
• Non-specific urethritis (NSU): It is urethritis that has no identified cause.

Who is Affected by Urethritis?

Urethritis can affect anyone. There are, however, risk factors for urethritis. Among them are:

• You must be between the ages of 15 and 24.
• Having multiple sexual partners.
• Having intercourse without protection.
• Using irritant-containing products, such as deodorant tampons, douches, spermicides, or personal lubricants.
• You are suffering from urethral trauma. It could occur due to an accident or by inserting something into the urethra, such as a urinary catheter.

How is Urethritis Identified?

Your doctor will take a medical history and ask you questions, some of which will be regarding your sexual past. A physical examination will also look for redness, discoloration, swelling, and pain.

Your doctor may prescribe the following tests:

• Discharge experiments in the lab
• Blood tests are performed.
• Urine tests are performed.

These tests may aid in diagnosing urethritis and the type of infection causing it.

What is the treatment for urethritis?

Antibiotics, either alone or in combination, are the primary treatment for urethritis. Among the antibiotics used to treat urethritis are:

• Azithromycin
• Doxycycline
• Ofloxacin
• Levofloxacin
• Ceftriaxone
• Cefixime

If your provider believes you have an infection, they may start you on medicines before the findings are available. They may also advise you to take pain relievers.

Suppose you have urethritis caused by friction or irritating chemicals such as soap or spermicide. In that case, your provider may advise you to avoid wearing tight clothing, stop using the irritant, and reduce the amount of time you spend doing the activity that creates friction.

How soon will I feel better after treatment?

Make sure you take all your antibiotics as directed by your doctor. Typically, the drugs must be taken for a week to ten days. You’ll probably feel better after a few days, but you must complete the prescription.

Steps to avoid urethritis

You can lower your chances of acquiring urethritis by doing the following:

• Taking precautions to avoid STIs, such as practicing safe sex and limiting the number of sexual partners.
• If you’re sexually active, get frequent STI tests.
• Avoiding substances that may cause urethral irritation.
• Avoid doing anything that could irritate your urethra.

Final Words

If you have urethritis, contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• You’re not feeling better if you’ve taken your prescription as directed.
• You have the impression that you are deteriorating.
• You’ve noticed new signs or symptoms that concern you.
• Your drug is causing you to have a poor reaction.

Dr. Dushyant Panwar is one of the best urologists in Ahmedabad known for proving all urological treatments. If you are aware of any of these symptoms, book an appointment to get rid of this issue easily.