Table of contents:
- What is urethritis?
- What are the signs or symptoms?
- Causes of urethritis
- Risk factors for urethritis
- How is the disease diagnosed and treated?
Similar to urinary tract infection (UTI), urethritis or inflammation of the urethra can cause symptoms in the form of a feeling of discomfort when urinating. So, what is the cause and how is the treatment to treat the condition?
What is urethritis?
Urethritis is a condition in which the urethra becomes inflamed and irritated. The urethra is the part of the urinary tract that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. If you have problems with the urethra, the symptoms will bother you when you urinate.
Usually, urethritis results from sexually transmitted diseases, but in some cases it can also be caused by injury from using a urinary catheter or exposure to chemicals such as antiseptics or spermicides.
Urethritis is different from a UTI. In urethritis, inflammation occurs only in the urethral tract. Meanwhile, urinary tract infections can attack any organ in the urinary system. Both may have similar symptoms, but the treatment needed is different.
This disease can occur in anyone of any age, both men and women. However, women are more prone to experience it than men. This is because the urethra in a woman's body is shorter, usually only 3-4 cm long, so that germs can more easily and quickly get into the urethra.
What are the signs or symptoms?
Urethritis in men and women has slightly different symptoms. Some people may also not show obvious symptoms, especially in women. Meanwhile, in men, urethritis symptoms may not be seen if the urethritis is caused by chlamydia or trichomoniasis infection.
For this reason, it's important to get tested if you have been infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
Symptoms of urethritis in women include:
- abnormal vaginal discharge,
- pelvic and abdominal pain,
- pain during sexual intercourse,
- frequent urination,
- fever and chills,
- stomach ache, as well
- itchy.
While in men, urethritis symptoms include:
- blood in urine or semen (nocturia),
- pain during ejaculation,
- white discharge from the penis,
- a hot sensation when you make water,
- the penis is swollen, itchy, and sensitive,
- swollen lymph nodes in the groin area, as well
- fever, although it is rare.
Causes of urethritis
Generally, most of the causes of urethritis are infections either from bacteria, viruses, or parasites. However, bacteria are the most common culprit. This disease caused by infection is divided into two types, namely gonorrhea urethritis and non-gonorrhea urethritis.
Gonorrhea urethritis is caused by a bacteria called Neisserie gonorrhoeae which is transmitted during sexual intercourse without using a condom. Meanwhile, non-gonorrhea urethritis is caused by bacteria other than N. gonorrhoeae as Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, or Trichomonas vaginalis.
If the cause is a viral infection, several types of viruses are the herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Apart from infection, urethritis can be caused by injury or sensitivity to chemicals used in contraceptives such as spermicides, soaps and creams. The damage caused by friction during intercourse or masturbation can also cause inflammation in men.
There is also a condition called reactive arthritis or Reiter's syndrome, a condition in which the symptoms can include inflammation of the urethra.
Risk factors for urethritis
Apart from women, a person who is more susceptible to this disease is someone who has a history of venereal disease and is involved in high-risk sexual relations. For example, if sexual intercourse is carried out without a condom, frequent sexual intercourse while drunk, or multiple partners.
According to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, oral sex can be a risk factor for non-gonorrhea urethritis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that every patient diagnosed with and suspected of urethritis should undergo tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
This is done so that people can inform their partners, who may also need to be tested and treated. It can also encourage patients to take appropriate medication.
How is the disease diagnosed and treated?
To diagnose whether you have urethritis, your doctor will ask about the symptoms you feel first. The doctor will also ask about your sexual history, including partner and condom use.
Because this disease is usually caused by sexually transmitted infections, the doctor will check for signs of other infections such as syphilis, as well as genital warts caused by the HPV and HIV viruses. If urethritis occurs due to injury or chemical irritation, your doctor will look at your medical history and any medications you have used.
To make sure that you really have contracted the disease, you may also be referred for further tests. Some of them are as follows.
- Urine test: A sample of your urine will be taken and examined in a laboratory for bacteria or viruses.
- Blood test: a blood sample will be checked for possible disease.
- Vaginal culture: in female patients, a vaginal discharge may also be tested. The sample is taken by inserting a cotton swab into the vagina.
- Cystoscopy: This test will look for problems in the urinary tract using a thin telescope device called a cystoscope that is inserted into the urethral tube.
- Ultrasound: Ultrasound can show a clear picture of the inside of the pelvis.
- Nucleic acid test (NAT): filter test that can detect the presence of viral DNA or RNS.
Furthermore, the doctor will provide a drug that suits your condition. Treatment is carried out with the aim of eradicating the bacteria or virus that causes the disease, relieving symptoms, and preventing the spread of infection.
To get rid of viruses or bacteria, the doctor will give you antibiotics which you should take for about six weeks. You may also be given pain medication such as ibuprofen to treat pain, which is a frequent symptom of urethritis.
During treatment, patients are advised to avoid sexual intercourse or to avoid using products that contain irritants if the disease is caused by injury or chemicals.
