Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra caused by bacteria or a virus.
The same bacteria that cause urinary tract infections and some sexually transmitted diseases such as: chlamydia or gonorrhea can lead to urethritis. Viral causes of urethritis include herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus.
Other causes may include irritation from a product used in the genital area, such as soap, deodorant or spermicide
Urethral stricture is a narrowing of a section of the urethra. It causes a blocked or reduced flow of urine which can lead to complications. There are various treatment options which aim to widen the narrowed section of the urethra.
Diagnostic investigations
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A bladder diary aim is to document fluid intake and how often urine is passed on a daily basis. Ideally measuring the volume of urine that is passed during each visit to the toilet, (or whether large or small amount is passed), episodes of incontinence and pad or clothing changes. This will usually be over the period of 3 days.
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A urine flow test and bladder scan is performed in clinic to measure the rate at which you pass urine. It is a simple, painless procedure. There are no side effects. A bladder scan shows whether or not you are emptying your bladder when you pass urine. This is not an internal examination
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Urine dipstick testing to check for protein, blood or infection in the urine.
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Urodynamics test investigates the function of the bladder, and whether the urinary symptoms are due to bladder or prostate problems. It involves passing very small tubes into the bladder and back passage and slowly filling the bladder with fluid while the pressures in your bladder are measured.
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Blood test to check your kidney function
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PSA test is a blood test which is usually performed to check for prostate disease. It can be raised not only in cancer of the prostate but also in other prostate diseases.
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Flexible cystoscopy is a day case procedure and involves passing a narrow flexible telescope down the urethra (water-pipe) into the bladder and through the prostate under local anaesthetic, to inspect the urethra, prostate and bladder from inside.
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Ultrasound of the urinary tract to check for stones, tumours or obstruction of the kidneys and bladder.
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CT scan of the abdomen to check for disease involving the kidneys, ureters or bladder.
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Transrectal ultrasound and biopsy of the prostate is a procedure that takes small samples of tissue from your prostate gland. Your doctor may recommend that you have a prostate biopsy to check for cancer if tests show that you have a raised level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood or an enlarged prostate gland.
This procedure is routinely done at benenden hospital as a day-case procedure. This means you have the procedure and go home the same day. Your consultant will carefully pass a lubricated ultrasound sensor into your rectum. You may find the sensor will feel uncomfortable but it should not be painful. Images of your prostate will be displayed on a monitor, which will be used to look at your prostate. This will also help your consultant in taking biopsies of your prostate through the wall of your rectum.
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