What Is a Urethral Stricture?

The urethra is the tube through which urine passes out of the body. It connects the bladder to the penis in men and to the urinary meatus in women. A physiological restriction of the urinary tube is called a urethral stricture. Obstruction of the urine’s flow from the bladder is a medical issue; if left uncorrected, a urethral stricture can result in discomfort, inflammation, infection, and, in more serious cases, renal disease and failure. Both sexes can develop urethral strictures but the condition occurs more frequently among men.

Urethral strictures are relatively common, especially among older males. One study found an incidence rate of one-half percent of all men in susceptible populations – about one individual out of every 200. If you think that you’ve developed a urethral stricture, make an appointment with a member of the Baptist Health urology team for consultation and treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of a Urethral Stricture?

Urethral strictures are marked by several common symptoms:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Straining during urination
• Weak urine streams
• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Painful or bloody urination
• Inability to completely void the bladder

What Is a Urethral Stricture?

The urethra is the tube through which urine passes out of the body. It connects the bladder to the penis in men and to the urinary meatus in women. A physiological restriction of the urinary tube is called a urethral stricture. Obstruction of the urine’s flow from the bladder is a medical issue; if left uncorrected, a urethral stricture can result in discomfort, inflammation, infection, and, in more serious cases, renal disease and failure. Both sexes can develop urethral strictures but the condition occurs more frequently among men.

Urethral strictures are relatively common, especially among older males. One study found an incidence rate of one-half percent of all men in susceptible populations – about one individual out of every 200. If you think that you’ve developed a urethral stricture, make an appointment with a member of the Baptist Health urology team for consultation and treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of a Urethral Stricture?

Urethral strictures are marked by several common symptoms:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Straining during urination
• Weak urine streams
• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Painful or bloody urination
• Inability to completely void the bladder

What Causes a Urethral Stricture?

The most common cause of urethral stricture is scar tissue, which has a number of different sources:

• Traumatic injury to the urethra or pelvic region
• Invasive procedures involving endoscopes and other medical instruments
• Catheterizations
• Radiation therapy

Other potential causes of a urethral stricture include:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia
• Urethral cancers
• In men, enlarged (benign or cancerous) prostates

How Is a Urethral Stricture Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of a urethral stricture typically involves one or more of the following steps:

• Physical exam: Your physician will record your symptoms, compile a medical history, and examine you physically for evidence of urinary obstruction.
• Urinalysis: A urine sample will be sent to a medical lab, where it can be analyzed for the presence of blood, cancer, or infectious agents.
• Urinary flow test: A urodynamic test measures both the volume and force of urine flow. 
• Visual inspection of the urethra: Your physician can insert a tiny camera, called a cystoscope, into your urethra, to inspect it for evidence of scar tissue, cancer, or other forms of constriction.
• Imaging tests: X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound pictures can provide additional information relevant to diagnosis.

How Is a Urethral Stricture Treated?

There are several treatment options for relieving a urethral stricture:

• Temporary and permanent catheterizations: Catheters are thin tubes inserted in the urethra and bladder, with the purpose of relieving urinary retention through the drainage of unpassed fluids. In more severe cases, a permanent catheter or stent can be used to maintain urine flow indefinitely, though procedures of this type come with increased risks of bladder irritation and urinary tract infections.
• Dilation: Dilation is an outpatient procedure in which a series of increasingly large dilators are inserted into the urethra by means of a wire. These dilators gradually expand the urethral passage, making possible a greater flow of urine from the bladder.
• Endoscopic urethrotomy: This procedure involves the cystoscope, which is inserted in the urethra with an instrument package for eliminating obstructive material. One of the available instruments is a tiny laser for vaporizing scar tissue.
• Urethroplasty: Urethroplasty is a surgical procedure for removing a constricted portion of the urethra and then rejoining the two healthy segments. An alternative treatment involves reconstructing a portion of the urethra using organic tissues from another location in your body.

Preventing urethral strictures comes to down avoiding the injuries and infections which are the primary causes of it. In other words, take common sense precautions.

The good news about urethral strictures is that, if you develop one, medical treatments have proven reasonably effective in their control. Recurrence is fairly common, however.

Learn More About Urethral Strictures from Baptist Health

For more information about urethral stricture diagnosis and treatment or to schedule an appointment with our physicians, please contact the Baptist Health urology team.