Urethritis - also known as urethritis - is a so-called lower urinary tract infection. The mucous membrane of the urethra is inflamed. Depending on the cause, a distinction is made between specific and non-specific urethritis. The typical symptoms of urethritis include pain and burning when urinating as well as a mucousy, whitish to green discharge from the urethra.
You can find out below which doctor treats urethritis and what the treatment looks like.
The urethra is the tube of tissue through which urine leaves the body from the bladder when going to the toilet.
In urethritis, the mucous membrane of the urethra is inflamed. Urethritis - like cystitis - is therefore generally referred to as a lower urinary tract infection.
Urethritis often occurs in combination with other inflammations of the
that cause similar symptoms.
Both men and women can be affected by urethritis. In men, the urethra is 25-30 cm long, in women only 3-4 cm. This is why the symptoms vary between the sexes.
The symptoms of urethritis usually consist of a mucous discharge from the urethra or pain and burning when urinating.
There are two forms of urethritis, depending on the cause of the disease: specific and non-specific urethritis.
The more common form is specific urethritis. It is caused by an infection with the sexually transmitted bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci). These pathogens are also responsible for the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. This form of urethritis is therefore also referred to as gonorrheal urethritis.
Women have a much shorter urethra than men. This is why urethritis causes different symptoms © Orawan | AdobeStock
Non-specific urethritis - also known as non-gonorrhoeal urethritis - is also usually triggered by pathogens. They are transmitted during sexual intercourse. In 50 percent of cases, this is chlamydia. But other
can be responsible for non-specific urethritis. In addition, non-infectious causes can also underlie non-specific urethritis. These include, among others
In around 25 percent of cases, inflammation of the urethral mucosa occurs without any pronounced typical symptoms. Women in particular are very frequently affected by this type of urethritis. The inflammation usually only causes an unpleasant feeling or slight pain when urinating. In many cases, it is therefore not recognized at all or only very late.
In men, on the other hand, the symptoms are generally more pronounced and more typical than in women. For example, urethritis in men manifests itself through, among other things
If urethritis remains undetected and therefore untreated, both men and women can suffer long-term damage. These include, among other things
In addition, the inflammation can spread to the bladder and kidneys and, in men, to the testicles.
can be the result.
The diagnosis of urethritis is usually made by
The doctor usually diagnoses urethritis based on the symptoms described by the patient and the clear reddening of the urethral opening.
However, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and detect the pathogen. To do this, the doctor takes a swab from the inflamed urethra during the physical examination. In the laboratory, this swab is examined under a microscope to determine which pathogens are responsible for the inflammation. In addition, the causative pathogens can also be detected and determined by a urine test.
The treatment of urethritis depends on the causative pathogens and disease triggers.
Urethritis caused by a bacterial infection is therefore usually treated with appropriate antibiotics . The antibiotics kill the bacteria and slow down their multiplication.
Antifungal agents are used for urethritis caused by fungi.
Urethritis caused by viruses, such as herpes simplex, is treated with antiviral medication, such as acyclovir.
The causative pathogens are usually transmitted during sexual intercourse. It is therefore advisable to refrain from sexual intercourse until the infection has healed. In addition, the partner should also be examined and treated if necessary. This way, the couple can avoid infecting each other again.
To support the healing process of urethritis, those affected should drink as much as possible. Despite the pain when urinating, go to the toilet frequently to flush out the causative pathogens.
Fruit juices in particular, such as
are said to prevent germs from adhering to the urethral mucosa and thus have a positive effect on the course of the disease.
Various medicinal plants and herbs can also alleviate the symptoms of urethritis. They can be drunk as a tea or taken as a ready-made medicine from the pharmacy. The classic medicinal herbs that are used here include, for example
If you follow a few rules and behaviors, you can often effectively prevent urethritis. These include above all
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