Difficulty with urinating requires expert care
Consultant urological surgeon, Miss Stella Ivaz explains that the symptoms of reduced urine flow caused by strictures are far more common in men than people think. In her article, What is a Urethral Stricture?, Miss Ivaz goes onto to say, "Urethral stricture refers to inflammation or scarring that occurs in or around the urethra causing it to become narrower. This in turn restricts the flow of urine from the bladder, which can lead to a variety of problems in the urinary tract, including inflammation and infection".
Don't wait to seek advice if symptoms of stricture occur
There is a need to be proactive as urinary retention and other blockages that persist can cause kidney damage. Furthermore, when blockages are treated as an emergency there is a risk of more damage than would otherwise occur if treated proactively, and without the obvious urgency.
Miss Stella Ivaz (pictured - right) senior Consultant Urologist, specialising in Urethral Strictures
What are the symptoms of urethral stricture?
The main symptoms include:
- Decrease in urine stream
- Inability to completely empty bladder
- Spraying of the urine stream
- Difficulty, straining or pain when urinating
- Increased urge to urinate or more-frequent urination
- Urinary tract infection
- Abdominal pain
- Urinary retention
- Swelling of the penis
- Loss of bladder control
For information on diagnosing a urethral stricture - Diagnosing Urethral Strictures
