Urethritis

Urethritis is a condition that affects the urinary organs of the human body. It is a condition prevalent in both men and women. It can be described as a condition during which the urethra gets inflamed. The urethra is the tube that carries urine and semen outside the body through the urinary organs. One of the main symptoms of Urethritis is experiencing a pain during urination, known as dysuria.

Causes of Urethritis

Urethritis is generally caused due to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea and Chlamydia. It can also be caused by the transmission of bacteria like the herpes virus infection during unsafe sexual practices. However, the relation to these STDs and actual urethritis is not clear. They can also be caused by any infection of the urinary canal. The inflammation occurs due to the accumulation of the white blood corpuscles in the urinary tract.

Urethritis can also occur due to kidney stones, spinal cord injury or if the immune system is not up to its regular activities. Individuals with diabetes are more prone to have urinary tract infections, which may finally lead to urethritis.

Other External Causes for Urethritis:

There are other external causes for Urethritis.Urethritis can also be caused due to irritation due to soaps and lotions used. Ingredients used in contraceptive products are also a cause of the irritation. In many cases, Urethritis occurs when a new soap or lotion is used. In rare cases, Urethritis can be caused due to the manipulation of the urethra during medical or other processes. This can be further complicated with a bacterial infection.

Symptoms of Urethritis in Men and Women:

Urethritis is a common occurrence in men and women. The symptoms for both genders are not much different from each other. Some of the symptoms of urethritis in women and men are:

• Burning or itching sensation while urination.
• Increase in the urge of urination.
• Blood in urine or semen.
• Itching or tenderness in the penis.
• Painful sexual intercourse.
• Nausea, Vomiting and High Fever.

Urethritis Treatment:

There are certain types of urethritis and only some do require medical care. For example, urethritis arising from the use of a new soap or lotion does not need any medical attention. However, if Urethritis arises after a medical procedure, medical care is required.

Though Urethritis in itself rarely requires immediate treatment, some of its symptoms may indicate that the infection has gone beyond the urinary tract. If any foreign object has been lodged into the urethra or the urinary tract, immediate medical attention is required. Such a situation can create an infection.

Most urethritis can be cured with the help of antibiotics.

Tests for Urethritis:

There are some medical tests that are used to ensure the prevalence of Urethritis. The tests for urethritis are:

• Urine Test
• Rectal Test
• Blood Sample
• Swab for Urethra