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Urethritis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Symptoms:

In men:

• Burning pain while urinating ( dysuria )
• Increased urinary frequency or urgency
• Itching, tenderness, or swelling in penis or groin area
• Fever (rare)
• Discharge from penis (usually moderate, yellow or clear, possibly purulent)
• Pain with intercourse or ejaculation
• Blood in the urine or semen

In women:

• Burning pain while urinating
• Increased urinary frequency or urgency
• Fever and chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Vaginal discharge
• PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)
• Other infections of reproductive organs (cervicitis, salpingitis)
• Fertility problems
• Pelvic pain
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Complications of pregnancy (miscarriage, preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes, fetal infection, postpartum infection)

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will perform a physical examination. For men, the areas to be examined include the abdomen, bladder area, penis, and scrotum. A digital rectal exam will also be performed. The physical exam may reveal tender and enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area, discharge from the penis, or a tender and swollen penis.

For women, areas to be examined include the abdominal and pelvic exams. The health care provider will check for lower abdominal tenderness, uterine tenderness, and discharge from the urethra.

The following laboratory tests may be done:

• Urinalysis and urine cultures
• Tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia and other sexually-transmitted diseases
• Pregnancy test (women only)
• CBC (complete blood count)
• C-reactive protein test
• Pelvic ultrasound (women only)

References:

Lyon CJ . Urethritis.  Clin Fam Pract . 2005 Mar; 7(1); 31-41.

Walsh PC. Campbell's Urology . 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Sanders; 2002:673-678. 

• Review Date: 5/3/2006
• Reviewed By: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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