What is urethral stenosis?
The urethra begins at the lower end of the bladder and opens into the glans in men and the vagina in women. In women, the urethra is much shorter (up to 4 cm) than in men (about 20 cm). Urethral stenosis is a narrowing of the urethra. It is much more common in men than in women. It is usually a mild but uncomfortable disease.
What are the causes of an urethral stenosis?
- Urinary tract infection (eg gonorrhea).
- Infection of the foreskin (glans)
- Tumors of the urethra (very rare)
- Accidents, particularly serious injuries in the area of the basin, fall by bike with a horizontal bar.
- Medical procedures such as catheterization, endoscopies, certain sexual practices with foreign bodies: the trauma caused can lead to the formation of scars and thus to narrowing of the urethra. Following surgery of the prostate or other operations on the urinary tract.
- Radiation therapy.
What are the symptoms of urethral stenosis?
- Small stream, interrupted and sprayed stream.
- Incomplete bladder emptying.
- Presence of residual urine following the obstacle to the flow of urine.
- Urinary infection.
- Burning sensation during urination.
- Blood in the urine (hematuria).
How to make the diagnosis of an uretral stenosis?
- History taking into account the symptoms of the patient; questions about the history of infections and traumas.
- Urinary tests.
- Bladder ultrasound: detects the presence of residual urine and determines the state of the bladder.
- X-ray with contrast medium (urethrography) in radiology.
- Endoscopy of the urethra (cystoscopy).
What to do in case of failure of treatment techniques?
In case of failure of the previous techniques, the stenosis must be removed by a short incision between the scrotum and the anus. The urethra channel is reconstructed so that natural urines can flow normally.
Sometimes patients are asked to insert an instrument into their own urethra regularly at home to prevent the recurrence.
Sometimes patients are asked to insert an instrument into their own urethra regularly at home to prevent the recurrence.