Stricture (stenosis) of the urethra is a narrowing of the urethra at any point in its path. The consequences of this constriction concern the outflow of urine, which becomes difficult, so that the patient may experience more or less severe difficulty in urinating. The condition is associated with the formation of a mass of scar tissue near the tapering area. And the larger this mass, the more pronounced the narrowing of the urethral canal.
What is the reason?
The exact cause of urethral stricture is unknown. However, this disorder has been observed to be most common in men over the age of 50. Women and children make up a small percentage of cases.
What causes the formation of a scar mass that clogs the urethra? Some of the risk factors include:
• trauma;
• infections;
• birth defects;
• tumors.
Accidental trauma or impact can damage the urethra. As the injury heals, scar tissue forms and, under adverse circumstances, it can block the urethra. Classic traumatic situations potentially responsible for such consequences are falls from motorcycles, bicycles, horses, and some surgical interventions on the urinary tract and genitals.
Scar tissue can also form as a result of a pathogenic infection. Here the "leaders" are gonorrhea and chlamydia. The chances of urethral stricture increase significantly in the case of a chronic course of diseases.
Birth defects and tumors of the urethral canal are rare.
What are the signs of urethral stricture?
The symptoms depend on the degree of the stricture itself. Mild cases are almost asymptomatic. The classic sign of a stricture is difficulty urinating, which goes from a minor discomfort to a major problem.
The patient complains of reduced urine flow, painful urination; urinary incontinence; feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, blood in the urine and semen, decreased jet ejaculation.
Complications
The main complication that characterizes urethral stricture concerns the impossibility of emptying the bladder after each urination. Over time, this can develop into serious infections of the bladder, prostate, or kidneys. Stagnation of urine inside the bladder is considered one of the main causes of urinary tract infections.
Another complication that deserves attention concerns the urine stream and the size of the occlusion. In fact, if the constriction conditions worsen, the patient may suffer from complete urinary retention, that is, a complete inability to urinate.
When and to whom to contact?
If you have the symptoms described above and the general condition affects the standard of living, it is advisable to consult a urologist. Specialists of Bogolyuby Medical Center successfully perform meatotomy, a surgical procedure designed to treat urethral stenosis. The essence of the intervention is to expand the external opening of the urethra by dissection. The operation takes place under local or general anesthesia, it does not take much time, so hospitalization is usually not required.
The rehabilitation period after meatotomy involves the restriction of physical activity, the local application of ointments with antibiotics. In the early days, painkillers may be indicated. The tissues of the head of the penis and urethra heal quickly, so that recovery does not take much time.
