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Urethral stricture - Symptom

Symptoms:

Blood in the semen
Bloody or dark urine
Decreased urine output
Difficulty urinating
Discharge from the urethra
Frequent or urgent urination
Inability to urinate (urinary retention)
Incontinence
Painful urination (dysuria)
Pain in the lower abdomen
Pelvic pain
Slow urine stream (may develop suddenly or gradually)
Spraying of urine stream
Swelling of the penis

Signs and tests:

A physical examination may show the following:

Decreased urinary stream
Discharge from the urethra
Enlarged (distended) bladder
Enlarged or tender lymph nodes in the groin (inguinal) area
Enlarged or tender prostate
Hardness (induration) on the under surface of the penis
Redness or swelling of the penis

Sometimes the exam reveals no abnormalities.

Tests include the following:

Cystoscopy
Post-void residual (PVR) volume
Retrograde urethrogram
Tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea
Urinalysis
Urinary flow rate
Urine culture

Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Reviewed last on: 9/7/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Jordan GH, Schlossberg SM. Surgery of the Penis and Urethra. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 33.

Frenkl T, Potts J. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 11.

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