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Treatment of a urethral stricture depends upon its location along the urethra, as well as its severity. Underlying conditions like infections and inflammation can be treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Urethral Stricture Treatment. Urethral dilation. Periodic stretching of the urethra (urethral dilation) may be an option for some people.

Is there any remedy available to cure urethral stricture?

Management and Treatment How is urethral stricture treated? The treatment for urethral stricture will be decided by the findings on the imaging procedures. Treatment options include: Urethral dilation. Internal urethrotomy. Urethral reconstruction. With a short stricture, urethral dilatation or internal urethrotomy may be tried first.

What is the best medication for urethral stricture?

Traditionally, urethral strictures were treated by dilating (enlarging) the urethra with a balloon or an incision. However, most patients had only temporary relief from this treatment. The stricture would typically recur within weeks to months. In addition, these treatment options could cause further injury to the scarred urethra, leading to worsening of the condition.

How to treat urethral stricture at home?

Because urethral strictures can come back after surgery, you should be followed by a urologist. After the catheter is removed, your doctor will want to check you with physical exams and X-rays as needed. Sometimes the doctor performs urethroscopy to check the repair. In some patients, the stricture may return but may not need additional treatment.

How do you get rid of a urethral stricture?

Is ureteral stricture serious?

What is the latest treatment of urethral stricture?

Does urethral stricture require surgery?

Do urethral strictures get worse?

Can you live with a urethral stricture?

Is a urethral stricture painful?

Do you need a catheter after urethral dilation?

How long do urethral strictures last?

What is the recovery time for urethral surgery?

How do I widen my urethra?

What Is A Urethral Stricture?

Urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra. The urethra is the canal that carries urine from the bladder through the penis and out the urethr...

What Causes Urethral Stricture?

The most common cause appears to be chronic inflammation or the development of scar tissue. Scar tissue can gradually form from: 1. An injury to th...

What Problems Does Urethral Stricture Cause?

Many men with a stricture will have increasing discomfort that comes from difficulty in urinating and the holding of urine. In others, the problem...

What Are The Symptoms of Urethral Stricture?

The most obvious sign of urethral stricture is a weakened urinary system. This is noted by some of these symptoms: 1. Straining to urinate. 2. Pain...

What is a stricture in the urethra?

What is a urethral stricture? Urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra. Your urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis and out the urethral meatus (the opening at the tip of the penis) during urination. Many men with a stricture will have increasing discomfort with urinating and a slowing ...

Can stricture cause urination to be slow?

Many men with a stricture will have increasing discomfort with urinating and a slowing of the urinary stream. This can develop gradually and lead to pushing or straining to get urine out. In others, the problem will show up suddenly and without prior difficulty, requiring immediate care.

What are the symptoms of urethral stricture?

Symptoms of this can include: Straining to urinate. Pain during urination. Urinary tract infection. Prostatitis. Some patients with severe urethral strictures are completely unable to urinate.

Can you urinate with urethral strictures?

Some patients with severe urethral strictures are completely unable to urinate. This is referred to as urinary retention, and is a medical emergency. Hydronephrosis and renal failure may also happen from backup of urine into the kidneys from a poorly draining bladder.

Can a urinary stricture cause urinary retention?

This is referred to as urinary retention, and is a medical emergency. Hydronephrosis and renal failure may also happen from backup of urine into the kidneys from a poorly draining bladder. A urethral stricture can also cause inflammation of the prostate. Your urethra is surrounded by the prostate, just under the bladder.

Can urethral stricture cause prostate infection?

A urethral stricture can also cause inflammation of the prostate. Your urethra is surrounded by the prostate, just under the bladder. This inflammation of the prostate is known as prostatitis. Urinary backup can also cause complicated urinary tract infections. These can be managed with antibiotics and treatment of the urethral stricture.

Can stricture be detected with noninvasive testing?

Non-invasive testing may identify issues emptying the bladder, but cannot definitively identify a stricture. The rate at which your urine flows can be measured by urinating into a collection device – slow flow on this test could be caused by blockage of the urethra or a weak bladder.

How many people do Mayo Clinic urologists treat?

Mayo Clinic doctors treat more than 1,000 people with urethral strictures each year.

Does Mayo Clinic require a referral?

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals, or may have additional requirements for certain medical care.

What tests are done to determine the length of a stricture?

Urinary flow test — measures the strength and amount of urine flow. Urethral ultrasound — evaluates the length of the stricture.

What is the difference between a urinary flow test and a pelvic ultrasound?

Urinary flow test — measures the strength and amount of urine flow. Urethral ultrasound — evaluates the length of the stricture. Pelvic ultrasound — looks for the presence of urine in your bladder after urination. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — assesses whether your pelvic bone is affecting or is affected by your condition.

What is retrograde MRI?

Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — assesses whether your pelvic bone is affecting or is affected by your condition. Retrograde urethrogram — uses X-ray images to check for a structural problem or injury of the urethra as well as the length and location of the stricture along the urethra.

How to treat a blockage in the bladder?

Catheterization. Inserting a small tube (catheter) into your bladder to drain urine is the usual first step for treating urine blockage. Your doctor might also recommend antibiotics to treat an infection, if one is present. Self-catheterization might be an option if you're diagnosed with a short stricture. Dilation.

What is the procedure to remove the urethra?

Urethroplasty. This involves surgically removing the narrowed section of your urethra or enlarging it. The procedure might also involve reconstruction of the surrounding tissues. Tissues from other areas of the body, such as your skin or mouth, may be used as a graft during reconstruction.

What is posterior urethral stricture?

Posterior Urethral Stricture. Posterior urethral strictures happen in the first 1" to 2" of the urethra. This kind of stricture is due to an injury linked to a pelvic fracture (e.g., motor vehicle or industrial accident). In these cases the urethra is disrupted, or completely cut and separated. Urine cannot pass.

Why are strictures more common in men?

Men are more likely to have a urethral disease or injury because of their longer urethra. For this reason, strictures are more common in men. They are rare in women and in infants. Stricture (narrowing of the urethra) can happen at any point from the bladder to the tip of the penis.

What is the job of the urethra?

The urethra's main job in males and females is to pass urine outside the body. This thin tube also has an important role in ejaculation for men. When a scar from swelling, injury or infection blocks or slows the flow of urine in this tube, it is called a urethral stricture. Some people feel pain with a urethral stricture.

What is it called when a scar in the urethra is swollen?

When a scar from swelling, injury or infection blocks or slows the flow of urine in this tube, it is called a urethral stricture. Some people feel pain with a urethral stricture.

What is it called when you have a scar in your urine tube?

When a scar from swelling, injury or infection blocks or slows the flow of urine in this tube, it is called a urethral stricture. Some people feel pain with a urethral stricture.

Which part of the urethra is shorter?

The female urethra is much shorter than the male's. In males, urine must travel a longer distance from the bladder through the penis. In males, the first 1" to 2" of the urethra that urine passes through is called the posterior urethra. The posterior urethra includes:

What is the first part of the urethra that the bladder passes through?

In males, the first 1" to 2" of the urethra that urine passes through is called the posterior urethra. The posterior urethra includes: the bladder neck (the opening of the bladder) the prostatic urethra (the part of the urethra by the prostate) the membranous urethra. a muscle called the external urinary sphincter.

Is urethral stricture rare?

Dr. Myers: Well, a urethral stricture is, quite simply, a scar in the urethra, which is the pee channel running from the bladder and out the penis. And it almost exclusively happens in men. It's very rare that it occurs in women. And so that's where we deal with it most.

Where do scars come from?

Dr. Myers: Most of the scars are what we call idiopathic, which means they just come up. And they come up in a particular area of the urethra, below the scrotum. But you can also get the scars from a bad infection, such as a sexually transmitted disease, which is very rare. And you can also get it from trauma.

Can you get scars from a bad infection?

But you can also get the scars from a bad infection, such as a sexually transmitted disease, which is very rare. And you can also get it from trauma. The classic trauma that can cause it is when a man lands on the perineum, like on a rail skateboarding or snowboarding.

Is stricture misdiagnosed?

Dr. Myers: The strictures are pretty rare, and so it's very often that they're misdiagnosed or not recognized for some time. I remember talking to an internist once, and they said, "Oh, I didn't even realize that could happen.". So they're not really on the radar a lot for the medical community as a whole.

Can men have a slow flow?

The urethra narrows down in a lot of cases just to a pinpoint, and so, the most obvious symptom of that is a very slow flow. And most guys will tolerate a slow flow alone. But there's a lot of other symptoms that come up. Men can have urinary tract infections.

Can a urologist diagnose a younger man?

But in a younger man, we can diagnose it or suspect it based upon their flow. And so, when someone comes to a urologist, we typically have them pee in a special toilet that allows us to measure their flow, and if they have a very slow flow and they're a younger man, then it's suspicious. They might have a scar.

Is a catheter a long term solution for men?

But, unfortunately, it's rarely a long-term solution for men.

What is a non surgical urethral stricture?

Non-Surgical Treatment. A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the bladder and exits the body. A scar in the urethra from swelling, previous procedures, injury or infection may cause a urethral stricutre and block or slow the flow of urine in the urethra. This often causes difficulty ...

Can a stricture occur in both the anterior and posterior urethra?

A urethral stricture can cause mild to severe issues with urination. These symptoms include the following. 3 . Verywell / JR Bee.

Can a stricture cause urination?

The path to diagnosis of strictures is fairly uniform but the treatment can vary based on where the stricture is located. A urethral stricture can cause mild to severe issues with urination. These symptoms include the following. 3 . Verywell / JR Bee.

What are the different types of urethral strictures?

There are four general types of urethral stricture: Iatrogenic: These are strictures caused by medical treatment of a different condition. Idiopathic : The cause of the stricture is unknown. Inflammatory : An infection or another problem caused inflammation in the urethra.

How long does it take for a urethral stricture to form?

While many strictures take months or years to form, a patient may have normal urination before a trauma and after a trauma may have significant urethral stricture due to injury or the swelling caused by the injury. 5 .

What is the procedure called when you remove a stricture?

Urethroplasty. The urethroplasty, also known as “open surgery,” is the surgical removal of the stricture with the reconstruction of the urethra. While this procedure is more involved and far more complex than other treatments, it is thought to have the best long-term outcomes and lowest rate of reoccurrence. 10 .

What is the surgical removal of the stricture with the reconstruction of the urethra?

The urethroplasty, also known as “open surgery,” is the surgical removal of the stricture with the reconstruction of the urethra. While this procedure is more involved and far more complex than other treatments, it is thought to have the best long-term outcomes and lowest rate of reoccurrence. 10 

Urethral Stricture Care at Mayo Clinic

Expertise and Rankings

• Experience
  Highly skilled urologists at Mayo Clinic have vast experience in performing both minimally invasive and reconstructive surgical techniques to treat urethral stricture disease.
• Urethral stricture expertise
  Mayo Clinic urologists and their teams are highly trained, often with additional specialty training to deal with complex urethral reconstructive procedures. Mayo Clinic doctors treat more than 1,000 people with urethral strictures each year.

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