Urethral Stricture
A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body, caused by scar tissue. In Nigeria common causes are past gonorrhoea or other infections that were not fully treated, injury to the pelvis or groin, and scarring after a catheter or an operation. It mostly affects men. Because the symptoms resemble an enlarged prostate, it is often missed in younger men.
Find a Urology SpecialistMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- A thin, weak or spraying urine stream
- Straining to pass urine
- Taking a long time to empty the bladder
- Dribbling after finishing
- Repeated urine infections
- Being unable to pass urine at all (retention)
When to See a Doctor
See a urologist if your urine stream has become thin or spraying, especially if you are under 50 or have had a sexually transmitted infection, a pelvic injury or a catheter in the past. Go to an emergency department straight away if you cannot pass urine at all. Do not allow repeated forceful attempts to pass a catheter, which can make a stricture worse: a urologist can drain the bladder safely.
Treatment options
- Urine flow test and a scan of how well the bladder empties
- Urethrogram (an X-ray with dye) or cystoscopy to see the stricture
- Urethral dilatation, stretching the narrowing
- Optical urethrotomy, cutting the scar through a telescope
- Urethroplasty, open surgery to rebuild the urethra, which lasts longest for long or recurrent strictures
- A suprapubic catheter to drain the bladder in an emergency
What it costs on Mezo
Published cash prices for the operations used to treat this condition. Your own quote follows an examination.
Common Questions
Is a urethral stricture the same as an enlarged prostate?
No. Both cause a weak stream, but a stricture is a scar in the tube, while BPH is enlargement of the gland around it. A stricture is more likely in younger men and after an infection or injury. A flow test, an X-ray or a cystoscopy tells them apart.
Will a stricture come back after treatment?
Dilatation and urethrotomy often work for short, first-time strictures, but recurrence is common, and repeating them tends to make the next treatment harder. For long or recurrent strictures, urethroplasty has the best long-term results.
Can a urethral stricture be prevented?
Many can. Treating sexually transmitted infections promptly and completely, and avoiding unnecessary or forceful catheterisation, prevent a large share of strictures.
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