urethritis

What is Urethritis?

Dr. DorkUrethritis occurs when the urethra gets infected and inflamed. This is Dr. Dork on the left, I thought this would be a good time to introduce him. Just ignore him for now.

What is the urethra?

The urethra is a canal that carries urine from the bladder. In males, it is inside of the penis, and it also carries semen and sperm out of the penis. In females, the urethra only carries urine from the bladder. See the male anatomy chart below:

A lot of males can have urethritis and have 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 discontinue sexual intercourse until after you get medical treatment. You don’t have to see Dr. Dork if you don’t want to, a “health care provider” can also assess and treat you. Females can also get urethritis, see bladder infections for more on that topic.

Here is the anatomy of the penis, it is a cross-section view, obviously. Here you can see the placement of the urethra in the male anatomy.

Penis cross section draw

Signs & Symptoms of Urethritis:

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

What Causes Urethritis?

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. See STD section for more on those two nasty but treatable diseases!

At the health care provider’s office when you have symptoms, or if you chose to see Dr. Dork, this is what will most likely take place:

culture left handedIf there are no secretions that the health care provider can take a sample of, then the person may insert a swab into the urethra — about 3 to 4 mm deep. (This is done so a “culture” can be taken to 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 2 weeks after treatment to make sure the infection has gone away completely.

While females get urethritis too, it seems to be more common in males when it’s not also part of a urinary tract infection. Males have a longer urinary tract than females do (for obvious reasons) if you think of the male anatomy or look at the drawing above.

Lab dude Here is a lab dude who you might see one day if they were also doing more tests on your urine or blood if your urethritis was recurring or your health care provider was concerned about another condition. I had his picture and I thought it would look good here. Also wanted to see if anyone was reading this.

For more on your Urologic Health, (kidney infections, kidney stones and more) check out this section for guys and gals of all ages.

This stuff really works. It worked for me and for a friend with a kidney infection: UTI-Clear for UTI, Bladder Infections and Cystitis  – Get more information.

Amy - Teen's Health Expert

By Amy - Teen's Health Expert

Discover the dedicated author behind Teen Health Secrets, an experienced expert committed to providing in-depth knowledge and guidance on various aspects of teen health, ensuring young individuals lead healthy, informed lives.