Urethritis

Overview
Urethritis occurs when the urethra gets infected and inflamed. The urethra is a canal that carries urine from the bladder. For males, it can be found inside the penis. It also carries semen and sperm out of the penis. In females, the urethra only carries urine from the bladder.

There are many causes of urethritis. Irritation by substances, such as creams, lotions, soap and spermicides can cause urethritis. This type of urethritis can not be spread to anyone else. Sexually transmitted diseases, like gonorrhea and chlamydia, can also cause urethritis and can be spread to sexual partners.

Symptoms
A lot of males can have urethritis but no symptoms at all. If you have any of the symptoms below, you should see a health care provider immediately as complications can develop if the urethritis is left untreated. You should also discontinue sexual intercourse until after you receive medical treatment. Females can also get urethritis but the condition is called a urinary tract infection (UTI).

The signs and symptoms of urethritis are:

• Painful or burning urination
• Itchiness
• Pus or mucous coming out of your penis (look for a noticeable stain on your underwear)
• The opening at the end of your penis may be stuck together by the dried secretions
• The opening at the end of your penis may appear red

Treatment
If there are no secretions for the health care provider to take a sample of, the doctor may insert a swab into the urethra--about 3 to 4 mm deep--in order to get a "culture" that will determine exactly what is causing the infection. The swab can cause some pain, but it is very important to do this test.

You will probably be given medication for the infection. Sometimes tests are done two weeks after treatment to make sure the infection has gone away completely.

Ask Your Physician
See your health care provider immediately if you have any of the above symptoms.

For more information on urethritis, click here.