Urethritis: Specialists & Information

The urethra is the tube through which urine leaves the body from the bladder when you use the restroom.

In urethritis, the mucous membrane of the urethra is inflamed. Urethritis is therefore—like a bladder infection—generally referred to as a lower urinary tract infection.

Urethritis often occurs in combination with other inflammations of the

• urinary tract,
• bladder, and
• kidneys

that cause similar symptoms.

Both men and women can be affected by urethritis. In men, the urethra is 25–30 cm long, while in women it is only 3–4 cm long. For this reason, the symptoms vary between the sexes.

The symptoms of urethritis usually consist of a mucous discharge from the urethra or pain and a burning sensation during urination.

Urethritis is classified into two forms depending on the cause of the disease: specific and nonspecific urethritis.

The more common form is specific urethritis. It is caused by an infection with the sexually transmitted bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci). These pathogens are also responsible for the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. This form of urethritis is therefore also referred to as gonococcal urethritis.

Women have a significantly shorter urethra than men. This is why urethritis causes different symptoms © Orawan | AdobeStock

Nonspecific urethritis—also known as non-gonococcal urethritis—is also usually caused by pathogens. These are transmitted during sexual intercourse. In 50 percent of cases, the cause is chlamydia. However, other

• sexually transmitted bacteria,
• viruses (e.g., herpes simplex viruses),
• parasitic protozoa (e.g., Trichomonas), and
• fungi

can be responsible for nonspecific urethritis. In addition, nonspecific urethritis can also have non-infectious causes. These include, among others,

• allergic reactions,
• mechanical irritation (e.g., from a urinary catheter),
• chemical irritation (e.g., from cancer medications)
• and radiation therapy.

In about 25 percent of cases, inflammation of the urethral mucosa occurs without any pronounced typical symptoms. Women are particularly frequently affected by this type of urethritis. For those affected, the inflammation usually causes only a feeling of discomfort or mild pain when urinating. As a result, it often goes unrecognized or is detected only very late.

In men, however, the symptoms are generally more pronounced and more typical than in women. In men, urethritis manifests itself, among other things, as

• a mucous, whitish to green discharge from the urethra (known as urethral discharge), which may contain both yellowish-green pus and clear mucus,
• a burning sensation and difficulty urinating,
• a frequent and strong urge to urinate,
• lower abdominal pain,
• constant itching and burning in the inflamed urethra,
• a reddened opening of the urethra,
• blood in the urine,
• and, in some cases, a fever.

If urethritis goes undetected and therefore untreated, long-term complications can occur in both men and women. These include, among other things,

• a narrowing of the urethra (stricture),
• acute urinary retention, and
• abscesses in the urethra.

In addition, the infection can spread to the bladder and kidneys, as well as

• in men, to the testicles, epididymis, or prostate, and
• in women, to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries

.

Urethritis is usually diagnosed through

• a medical history interview, during which the doctor asks about the patient’s medical history and specific symptoms,
• a physical examination, and
• detection of the causative pathogens.

In most cases, the doctor diagnoses urethritis based on the symptoms described by the patient and the noticeable redness of the urethral opening.

However, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and identify 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 identified through a urinalysis.

Treatment for urethritis depends on the causative pathogens and the factors triggering the condition.

Urethritis caused by a bacterial infection is therefore usually treated with appropriate antibiotics. The antibiotics kill the bacteria and prevent them from multiplying.

For urethritis caused by fungi, antifungal medications are used.

Urethritis caused by viruses, such as herpes simplex, is treated with antiviral medications, such as acyclovir.

The causative pathogens are usually transmitted during sexual intercourse. It is therefore advisable to abstain from sexual intercourse until the infection has cleared up. In addition, the partner should also be examined and, if necessary, treated. This helps the couple avoid re-infecting each other.

To support the healing process for urethritis, those affected should drink as much as possible. Even if urination is painful, go to the bathroom frequently to flush out the causative pathogens.

In particular, fruit juices such as

• red currant juice,
• lingonberry juice, and
• cranberry juice

are said to prevent bacteria from adhering to the urethral mucosa, thereby positively influencing the course of the illness.

In addition, various medicinal plants and herbs can also alleviate the symptoms of urethritis. They can be consumed as tea or taken as over-the-counter medications from a pharmacy. Among the classic medicinal herbs used for this purpose are, for example,

• field horsetail,
• bearberry leaves,
• birch leaves,
• stinging nettle,
• goldenrod,
• rose hips,
• gorse
• and juniper.

By following certain guidelines and practices, you can often effectively prevent urethritis. This includes, above all,

• using condoms during sexual intercourse,
• avoiding getting too cold,
• staying warm at all times,
• changing out of wet swimwear quickly and into dry clothes after swimming, and
• not subjecting the genital area to excessive hygiene.