AJOG's Editors have active research programs and, on occasion, publish work in the Journal. They are one of the most common reasons women visit their gynecologist. The posterior urethra is composed of the prostatic and membranous urethra and extends from the bladder neck to the end of the verumontanum (the region where the ejaculate [sperm and fluids] enters the urethra). Urethral stricture disease is much more common in men than in women. Learn the causes of upper and lower back pain. 1,711 Likes, 64 Comments - Mitch Herbert (@mitchmherbert) on Instagram: “Excited to start this journey! A health care provider typically places a catheter after the dilation and removes it approximately 72 hours after the procedure, if it was uncomplicated. A physician inserts a thin tube with a camera (endoscope) into the urethra to visualize the stricture (as describe in earlier section). Congratulations to my chairman Dr Vaughn Starnes 100th AATS…” A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. Depending on the location of the stricture in the urethra, a health care provider may pass a closed tube (stent) through an endoscope to the area of the stricture. Blood in semen can be caused by many conditions affecting the tubes that distribute semen from the testicles (seminal vesicles) or the prostate gland. This condition is rare in females. Symptoms that may accompany blood in semen include blood in the urine, fever, painful urination, pain with ejaculation, tenderness, and swelling in the testes or groin area. Picture of the urethra and associated structures. American Urological Association. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Cipro XR, Proquin XR) is an antibiotic drug prescribed to treat a variety of bacterial infections (sinus, tooth, UTI, gonorrhea, prostatitis). At that point, the doctor does a physical exam or orders tests to try to find the cause. Risks of this procedure include risks of infection, bleeding, pain, recurrent stricture, and fistula (a communication between the urethra and the skin), and dribbling after urination. This is a noninvasive method and usually does not require any special preparation. Complications of urethral stent placement include pain, dribbling after urinating, change in position of the stent (stent migration), stent malposition, and blockage of the stent. During such follow-up visits, you may be asked to void into a special collection device, uroflow, to measure the speed of urination and the flow of urination. Usually a urethral diverticulum is found during a routine pelvic exam or because a woman tells her doctor about symptoms she’s having. The cause isn’t always known. Excision and primary anastomosis urethroplasty is a non-tissue transfer procedure: This procedure involves open surgical removal of the scar and reconnection of the urethra. For urethral strictures in the penile urethra to the bulbar urethra, dilation is not recommended. Oftentimes, imaging and endoscopic studies are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and identify the location, length, and extent of the narrowing from the stricture. The membranous urethra is a short area of the urethra that extends from the proximal bulbar urethra to the distal verumontanum (the verumontanum is a small mound in the urethra where the ejaculatory ducts open into and sperm enters the urethra). Benign polyps in the bladder are usually removed with surgery, as well as bladder diverticulum. The treating urologist would recommend the procedure that would be the best option for each individual. Several months later the tissue is then made into a tube. The physician will ask questions about the force of urine stream, frequency of urination, feeling of complete or incomplete bladder emptying, direction of the urine stream, and other symptoms of urethral strictures. Augmented urethroplasty involves tissue transfer. Still, it’s believed that some cases are not properly diagnosed because the condition is relatively rare, and the doctor doesn’t always think of it. A doctor may recommend surgery in the following circumstances: There are several surgical treatments available for treating urethral strictures, some are more invasive than others. Procedures such as dilation and internal urethrotomy are outpatient procedures, whereas more complex repairs may be associated with an overnight stay in the hospital. A specialized urologist most commonly performs this surgery because it’s a very sensitive area. Typically, the catheter is left in place for at least 72 hours. A. Cystography, filling and voiding (VCUG) is helpful to look at the first part of the urethra, proximal urethra. Interstitial Cystitis This condition is characterized by the urinary frequency, and also the lower abdominal pain where no identifiable pathology is able to be found. Patient Comments: Urethral Stricture - Symptoms, Patient Comments: Urethral Stricture - Diagnosis, Patient Comments: Urethral Stricture - Treatment, Read more about causes of urinary retention, 1 in 3 Neighborhoods Is a 'Pharmacy Desert', Finding a Doctor Getting Tougher in Rural America. Online Dictionaries: Definition of Options|Tips What type of doctor treats urethral obstruction? Signs and symptoms of prostatitis include painful or difficulty urinating; fever; chills; body aches; blood in the urine; pain in the rectum, groin, abdomen, or low back; and painful ejaculation or sexual dysfunction. ©1996-2020 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Common infections that are sexually transmitted in men include gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis C and B, genital warts, human papillomavirus (HPV), and genital herpes. The risk of developing a stricture is related to the initial treatment of the injury. DVIU will be successful in approximately 50% of patients. Cystoscopy is limited as the length of the stricture and the exact location may not be able to be fully identified due to the size of the scope and the degree of narrowing of the urethra. While it’s uncommon, some people will continue to have problems from complications such as the sac not being completely removed or sealed. By clicking "Submit," I agree to the MedicineNet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. There are two types of urethroplasty techniques: tissue transfer procedures and non-tissue transfer procedures. Urinary retention (inability to urinate) may be caused by nerve disease, spinal cord injury, prostate enlargement, infection, surgery, medication, bladder stone, constipation, cystocele, rectocele, or urethral stricture. Policy, Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Urethral stricture is significantly more common in men and boys compared to women and girls. Once it reaches the proper location, a physician will open the stent to form a patent tube or conduit for urine to flow.