7 Causes of Urethritis and How to Treat Them

There are many possible causes of urethritis, and this can make it hard to figure out the underlying problem and treat it effectively. In fact, many men who suffer from urethritis actually have an STD or some other condition that’s not related to their urethra at all! Fortunately, there are some general ways to treat the condition, whether you’re suffering from an STD or something else entirely. Here are seven common causes of urethritis and how to treat them effectively.

1) Bacteria

There are many causes of ureritis, including: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, or immunological. A bacterial infection is the most common cause. The symptoms include pain while urinating, blood in the urine or semen, a burning sensation when urinating (dysuria), frequent urination (polyuria), fever (pyrexia) and chills. Bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. However, it’s important to note that bacteria isn’t the only possible cause of urethritis; therefore if you don’t respond well to treatment it may indicate that you have another type of infection.

Diseases like gonorrhea and Chlamydia may also lead to chronic inflammation that requires long-term therapy. To confirm whether you have an STI such as these two, it’s important to get tested by your doctor so he/she can determine what course of action will best help alleviate your condition.

2) A sexually transmitted infection

Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra. It is most often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but it can also be caused by other infections or inflammatory conditions. STIs that are known to cause urethral inflammation include: chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes simplex virus, syphilis, and mycoplasma genitalium. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most common bacterial STIs found in urethritis. They can both be treated with antibiotics like ceftriaxone or azithromycin.

Some symptoms of chlamydia include pain while urinating, frequent urge to urinate, unusual discharge from genitals, and pain in genitals during intercourse. Gonorrhea may present itself with burning during urination, discomfort in sexual organs when aroused, unusual vaginal discharge before ejaculation and increased frequency of erections during sleep.

3) An injury

One possible cause for urethritis is an injury. For example, if you have a cut on your penis or vagina, or have something inserted into those areas, it could cause urethritis. Treatment includes washing the area with soap and water to help remove bacteria that could lead to infection. There are also topical antibiotic ointments that can be applied to the affected area. If you think this is the cause of your urethritis, please call your doctor for Urethritis treatment in Coimbatore right away.

4) Allergies

Allergies are one of the most common causes for urethritis, particularly in men. Allergic reactions can occur from foods, medicines, or any other substance that a person has an allergic reaction to. Allergies will typically cause the body’s immune system to release histamine into the bloodstream which will then affect the urethra and bladder. Other symptoms include redness or swelling around the area, difficulty urinating, pain during urination, blood in urine, itching or burning sensation while urinating, painful urination due to swollen prostate gland.

5) Autoimmune conditions

Autoimmune conditions are the most common cause of urethritis. If you have an autoimmune condition, your body’s immune system will attack the cells in your urethra. This can lead to inflammation, which is called urethritis.

Autoimmune conditions that commonly cause urethral inflammation include Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes mellitus (diabetes), and ulcerative colitis. All these conditions involve chronic inflammation due to a malfunctioning immune system or some other underlying disease process.

The symptoms vary depending on the specific autoimmune condition. For example: rheumatoid arthritis may result in severe pain when urinating; psoriasis may result in painful urination; type 1 diabetes mellitus may result in frequent urination at night (nocturia); and ulcerative colitis may result in bloody urine or bloody stool.

6) Tumors

One potential cause for urethral stricture is tumors. When a tumor grows in the urethra, it can obstruct the flow of urine from the bladder. The obstruction can lead to urinary retention, frequent urination and inability to empty your bladder fully. The buildup of urine in the bladder may also lead to kidney infections and kidney damage. A number of different types of tumors can affect the urethra including bladder cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer or non-cancerous tumors such as hemangiomas or lymphangiomas.

7) Unknown causes

Infection from chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or other sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted infections are caused by bacteria or viruses that infect the genital area. Your symptoms may be different depending on the type of infection you have.

Infection from herpes virus (HSV-2). The herpes virus causes a painful infection in your genital area, which can cause sores or blisters on your genitals and discharge from the penis. You may also have pain in your lower abdomen or pain when urinating.

Tips to manage Urethritis at home

• Apply a cold compress on the urethral opening for 10 minutes at a time. The compression can help reduce swelling in the region and provide much-needed relief from pain.
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. If you’re unable to drink enough fluids naturally, use other forms of hydration like Gatorade or Pedialyte.
• Wear a condom when having sexual intercourse with your partner(s) so that you can avoid contracting STDs such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, which are common causes of urethritis.
• Consider taking an over-the-counter medication to relieve symptoms if it has been over two days since they began, according to the Mayo Clinic. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be helpful, but consult your physician before taking any medication.
• Soak in a bathtub filled with cool water for about 20 minutes every day to help relieve inflammation and pain, especially if this is your first bout with urethritis

How Urethritis is Diagnosed?

The urethra is the tube connecting the bladder to the outer surface. Urination can become difficult or impossible when it becomes inflamed. Seek medical attention right away if you detect any of these symptoms.

A urinalysis will be performed on your urine sample if you have a urethral discharge, inflammation or pain with urination, and a history of urinary tract infections. This will help assess for bacteria or other issues in your urine that may be causing inflammation in the urethra.

When to see doctor for Urethritis?

It is important to see a doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms: frequent urination, pain when urinating, cloudy or bloody urine, strong odor coming from the urine. The causes of urethritis can range from an infection (urinary tract infection) or sexually transmitted disease like gonorrhea or chlamydia. The treatments for these conditions will vary depending on what you are diagnosed with. For example, for urinary tract infections, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for you and recommend drinking more fluids.