
Top Symptoms of Urethral Stricture
The urinary tract comprises the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. These form as a result of the supersaturation of urine with crystals comprising of calcium, oxalate, uric acid, or phosphate. Factors that result in urinary tract infections are Dehydration, diet, inflammatory conditions, genetics, and metabolic disorders. It is very important to learn the Symptoms of urethral stricture so that you will be able to make the diagnosis and get treated promptly.
Let’s understand some common symptoms of urethral structure
Difficulty in urination:
It is one of the primary symptoms of urethral stricture. In this patient can experiencing
- Weak urine stream
- Difficulty in initiating urination
- Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
Frequent urge to urinate:
Because of incomplete emptying of the bladder, the person feels urination more frequently than usual. This can be more irritating at night and affects sleep quality.
Painful Urination (Dysuria):
If you feel burning or pain during urination, then it can be another common symptom of urethral narrowing. The discomfort is usually due to the increased pressure from the restricted flow of the urine.
Dribbling of Urine:
Urine may instead dribble out, leaving the person to feel as though they need to pee but are unable to fully do so. This can also be embarrassing and decrease the quality of life.
Blood in Urine:
One of the Urethral narrowing symptoms is blood in urine. It can be a pink, red, or brownish discoloration of urine.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
As the bladder becomes incompletely emptied, the bacteria are retained in the urinary tract, consequently leading to frequent infection. In addition to UTI, other symptoms point to you having a UTI, such as fever, cloudy urine, and foul smell.
Abdominal or pelvic pain
Patients with urethral stricture may complain of lower abdominal or pelvic pain due to urine retention and pressure build-up in the bladder.
Causes and Risk Factors
Understanding the symptoms of urethral stricture is important, but knowing its causes is the key to prevention. Some common causes include:
- Injury or damage to the urethra
- Infections like STDs
- Long-term use of catheters
- Previous urological surgeries
- Congenital conditions.
How Is Urethral Stricture Treated?
Medications that treat underlying conditions like urinary tract infections or an enlarged prostate, minor procedures, and open surgery are all urethral stricture treatments. There are no medications to treat urethral strictures.
Some of the common procedures include:
- Urethra dilation- a procedure to widen the urethra
- Urethrotomy- in which they use a laser and a scope to cut out scar tissue
- Urethral reconstruction- an open surgical procedure to remove the scarring and reconnect the urethra
- Urethroplasty- it is a surgical procedure to reconstruct the urethra with tissue from the penis or scrotum.
Preventing Urethral Stricture
Not all urethral stricture cases can be avoided, but the following precautions can minimize the risk:
- Regular cleaning up, particularly after using a catheter or following a surgical procedure, may help minimize the risk of infection.
- Be careful your urethra does not become damaged, especially during sports where you can be hit in the pelvic area.
- To prevent complications from this, treat UTIs quickly.
- If any urethral narrowing symptoms occur, visit a doctor immediately to avert further complications.
When to see a doctor
Even people with mild urethral narrowing may still have symptoms and need medical attention. Imaging tests and uroflowmetry can help a urologist diagnose the symptoms of urethral strictures.
In case you are in Rajasthan and aim for expert consultation, then you can consult a kidney stone doctor in Jaipur, as they mostly specialize in urological conditions, including urethral strictures.
What Questions to Ask Your Health Care Team
- What symptoms should I report to your clinic?
- What are the pros and cons of each of the treatment options?
- Is there something I can do to keep the stricture from recurring?
- Are there complications that can happen during or after the surgery?
- How long will you have to follow up for care?
Conclusion
Diagnosis of Symptoms of Urethral Stricture at its early stage can help in getting prompt medical attention. If not treated, urethral stricture can cause serious complications such as kidney damage and chronic urinary problems. Taking the help of a urologist for proper diagnosis and finding treatment options gives you long-term benefits. It is important to seek medical help because it can affect the overall health and well-being of you or someone you know who is facing these symptoms.
So, visit a kidney stone doctor in Jaipur and get an appointment with one of the top specialists for expert care today.