Urethral stenosis: characteristics, symptoms and diagnosis

Urethral stenosis is the narrowing of a segment thereof, accompanied by varying degrees of scar.

Causes of urethral stricture

Knowing the cause of stenosis is useful in determining the most appropriate treatment, as it can directly affect the outcome. The causes can be classified into:

- Iatrogenic: as a result of surgery, endoscopy, urethral catheterization, etc.. Usually the most common cause.

- Traumatic: either by blunt or penetrating trauma

- Inflammatory: lichen sclerosus and various urethritis - Idiopathic: unknown cause

- Congenital: less frequent.

Symptoms of urethral stricture

Patients suffering from this condition have the following symptoms:

- Painful or difficult urination

- Slow urine flow

- More willing to suffer a urinary tract infection

- Obstruction of the urinary tract with urinary retention

How is it diagnosed?

A complete medical history with proper physical examination and a radiological and endoscopic examinations are essential for a proper assessment. The most common diagnostic tests performed by experts in urology are:

Uretografía Urethrocystography: is an X-ray in which dye is inserted through the urethra. an anesthetic lubricant is used to avoid the inconvenience of probing and generally very well tolerated.

Flowmetry: alone is not useful for the diagnosis of urethral stricture, but other evidence accompanying the initial diagnosis of the disease, they can serve as a basis for follow-up monitoring.

Urethroscopy is the endoscopic assessment of the urethra. It can be done on an outpatient basis and does not usually cause great inconvenience.

Women and urethral stricture

They are not as frequent as in men, the symptoms are similar, and can be treated equally and with equally satisfactory results.