urethritis is a condition in which the urethra, or the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the soundbox, becomes inflamed and annoyed. Semen besides passes through the male urethra. Urethritis typically causes pain while urinating and an increased urge to urinate. The basal causal agent of urethritis is normally contagion by bacteria. urethritis is not the same as a urinary tract contagion ( UTI ). urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra, while a UTI is an infection of the urinary tract. They may have similar symptoms, but require different methods of treatment depending on the fundamental induce of the urethritis. urethritis affects people of all ages. Both males and females can develop the condition. however, females have a greater chance of developing the stipulate than males. This is partially because men ’ mho urethras, which are the length of the penis, are much longer than women ’ randomness. A woman ’ second urethra is typically one and a half inches long. That makes it easier for bacteria to enter the urethra. According to Antimicrobe, urethritis occurs in approximately 4 million Americans each year. Nongonococcal urethritis accounting for 80 percentage of the cases. Learn more about infections of the urinary system »
What are the symptoms of urethritis?
Symptoms in men
Males with urethritis may experience one or more of the follow symptoms :
- burning sensation while urinating
- itching or burning near the opening of the penis
- presence of blood in the semen or urine
- discharge from the penis
Symptoms in women
Some symptoms of urethritis in women include :
- more frequent urge to urinate
- discomfort during urination
- burning or irritation at the urethral opening
- abnormal discharge from the vagina may also be present along with the urinary symptoms
People who have urethritis may besides not have any noticeable symptoms. This is particularly true for women. In men, symptoms may not be apparent if the urethritis developed as a solution of chlamydia or occasionally trichomoniasis infection. For this reason, it ’ mho important to undergo testing if you may have been infected with a sexually transmitted contagion ( STI ).
What causes urethritis?
by and large, most cases of urethritis are the resultant role of an infection from either a bacteria or a virus. Bacteria are the most common causes. The like bacteria that can cause bladder and kidney infections can besides infect the liner of the urethra. Bacteria found naturally in the genital area may besides cause urethritis if they enter the urinary tract. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), bacteria associated with urethritis include :
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Mycoplasma genitalium
Pathogens are the biological agents that cause illness. The like pathogens that induce STIs can besides cause urethritis. These include the bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia and the parasite that causes trichomoniasis. There are besides viruses that can lead to the exploitation of urethritis. These include the human papillomavirus ( HPV ), the herpes simplex virus ( HSV ), and the cytomegalovirus ( CMV ).
Types of urethritis
There are different types of urethritis, classified by the induce of the inflammation. They are gonococcal urethritis and nongonococcal urethritis. Gonococcal urethritis is caused by the lapp bacteria that causes the STI gonorrhea. It accounts for 20 percentage of cases of urethritis. Nongonococcal urethritis is urethritis caused by other infections that are not gonorrhea. Chlamydia is a common induce of nongonococcal urethritis, with other STIs besides being a probable perpetrator. It is possible, however, for discomfort unrelated to STIs to occur. These causes can include injury, such as from a catheter, or other kinds of genital trauma. While plenty of patients have either one type of urethritis or the other, it ’ s possible to have different causes of urethritis at once. This is specially true in women.
How is urethritis diagnosed?
Your sophisticate will ask you about your symptoms. They ’ ll likely besides examine the genital area for empty, tenderness, sores and any signs of an STI. This can help them to make a diagnosis. They may order tests to analyze a urine sample or a dab taken from the urethra or vaginal area. If the doctor suspects a specific STI, there will likely be a test that can allow the sophisticate to confirm or rule out that potential diagnosis. Blood tests may be taken to check for early STIs, like HIV and syphilis. Depending on your doctor and their lab, you can get test results back in a soon as a few days. This allows them to start you on treatment equally soon as possible, and to let you know whether your partner needs to be tested and treated, excessively .
What are the treatment options for urethritis?
treatment for urethritis typically includes a course of either antibiotics or antiviral medication. Some common treatments for urethritis include :
- azithromycin, an antibiotic, typically taken as a one time dose
- doxycycline, an oral antibiotic that is typically taken twice a day for seven days
- erythromycin, an antibiotic that can be administered orally, four times a day for seven days
- ofloxacin, an oral antibiotic that is typically taken twice a day for seven days
- levofloxacin, an oral antibiotic that is typically taken once a day for seven days
If an STI caused the infection, it ’ randomness vital that all intimate partners undergo testing and treatment if necessary. This prevents the spread of the STI and reinfection. You may see improvement in your symptoms just a few days after beginning discussion. You should still finish out your prescription as recommended by your doctor, or the infection could come become bad. Those with urethritis should wait one workweek once they are wholly finished with their prescription drug and their partner has finished treatment before resuming sexual bodily process. potential drug interactions for the medications used to treat urethritis include :
- blood-thinning medications
- heart medications
- seizure medications
What are the complications associated with urethritis?
medicine can frequently treat urethritis promptly. If the infection goes untreated, however, the effects can be durable and quite serious. For example, the contagion may spread to other parts of the urinary tract, including the ureters, kidneys, and bladder. These infections can be atrocious on their own. While they can be treated with more intensive rounds of antibiotics, they can cause damage to the organs if left untreated for excessively long. These untreated infections can besides spread to the blood and solution in sepsis, which can be deadly. In accession, the STIs that frequently cause urethritis can damage the generative system. Women may develop pelvic incendiary disease ( PID ), which is atrocious and can result in sterility, ongoing pelvic pain, or pain during sex. Women with untreated STIs are besides at a higher risk for ectopic pregnancies, which can be dangerous. homo may develop irritating ignition or infection of the prostate gland gland, or the narrow of a section of the urethra due to scarring, leading to atrocious micturition. For these reasons, you should speak with a doctor adenine soon as possible if you notice any symptoms of urethritis .
How can I prevent urethritis?
many of the bacteria that cause urethritis can pass to another person through sexual reach. Because of this, practicing safe sexual activity is an important preventive measure. The tips below can help reduce your risk :
- Avoid having intercourse with multiple partners.
- Use condoms every time you have sex.
- Get tested regularly.
- Protect others. If you find out you have an STI, inform others who are also at risk of an infection.
apart from safer sexual activity practices, there are other ways to promote good urinary tract health. This can lower your hazard of urethritis and some other conditions that affect this part of the body. Drink enough of fluids and make sure to urinate curtly after sexual intercourse. Avoid acidic foods. besides, debar exposure to spermicides, particularly if you already know they irritate your urethra.
Q&A
Q:
What are the most effective home remedies for urethritis ?
Anonymous patient
A:
many people have heard that cranberry juice is good for urinary health. This is based on the fact that PACs ( proanthocyanidins ) are found in cranberries. Scientists have discovered that PACs in high enough numbers can change how bacteria interact within the urinary system. The trouble is the levels of PACs needed to create change within the urinary tract are not found in process cranberry juice. political action committee at the needed level are presently found merely in cranberry capsules, a mannequin of concentrate cranberry. then drink cranberry juice is commodity for the juice caller but not necessarily for you. Below are some tips for relief of your symptoms until you can be seen by your repair : – Take over the counter AZO ( phenazopyridine ). – Avoid scented products or soaps in the genital area.
– Eliminate things from your diet like caffeine, artificial sweeteners, alcohol, tomatoes, and hot foods .Judith Marcin, MDAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
