The urethra is a small tube that helps move urine and liquid waste through the bladder to the outside of the body. It also helps transport semen in the male ejaculatory system. Urology Health describes the urethra as beginning at the bladder and extending through the prostate and along the length of the penis in men; in women, it starts at the bladder and ends right at the front of the vagina. When the urethra is injured or damaged in some way, problems can occur. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis, since many conditions have similar symptoms.
Urethral Stricture Disease
Urethral stricture disease is a condition in which the urethra is blocked, causing obstruction of urine. It is usually caused by scarring of the urethra. Common causes for stricture formation include injury, sexually transmitted infections, urethral surgery and cancer, according to The University of Washington Department of Urology. Strictures can occur at any point along the urethra, and multiple strictures are also possible. Symptoms of this condition include being unable to completely empty the bladder, weak urinary stream, straining while urinating and urinary tract infections. Treatments for urethral stricture disease may include catheters, surgical dilation of the urethra or opening of the stricture, or completely resecting the stricture and reconstructing the urethra.
Urethrocele
Urethrocele is a condition where the urethra is lowered and is pressing into the vagina, according to Women's Health Queensland. It is typically not an isolated condition, often occurring with a cystocele, which is when the tissues between the vagina and the bladder weaken and cause the bladder to press against the vaginal wall. Sometimes this is referred to as a cystourethrocele. Symptoms can include not being able to empty the bladder fully, urine leakage during sexual intercourse, urinary tract infections and bladder leakage. Urethrocele may be caused by a variety of reasons, including pregnancy and childbirth, going through menopause, genetic factors and prior surgery in the pelvic region. Treatment can include the use of pessaries, which are devices that are placed in the upper vagina to support the other pelvic structures; and surgeries like vaginal vault repair.
Benign Urethral Lesions
Benign lesions on the urethra may occur from pelvic fractures, human papillomavirus (HPV), catheters and abscesses. Polyps may form in the urethra, although this is more common in infants, according to Urology Health. Other lesions include urethral caruncles, which are small masses occurring at an opening of the urethra; cysts in the urethra; or growths that look similar to warts and are caused by HPV. Treatment for benign lesions varies and depends on the specific kind of lesion, but can include medications like antibiotics, catheters, stents and surgery.
Urethral Cancer
Cancer of the urethra is a rare cancer and usually associated with bladder cancer, according to the Urology Department of UCLA. There have been fewer than 2,000 reported cases, according to a 2009 article by Christopher Powell at the Medical College of Georgia, published on Medscape. It is a rapidly spreading cancer that has usually invaded surrounding tissues and organs by the time it is diagnosed. Symptoms of this cancer include blood tinged urine, a weak urine flow that is often interrupted and an increase in frequency of urination. It occurs more often in women than men, and individuals over the age of 60 and those who have had a prior diagnosis of bladder cancer are at increased risk. Treatment for urethral cancer almost always includes surgery and may or may not require chemotherapy and radiation.
