Menopause and vaginal or vulvar conditions can also lead to urethral pain.
Treatment often includes medication, but it depends on the underlying cause.
The pain of a UTI could feel sharp, achy, or burning.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
Urethritis
Urethritismeans you have an inflamed urethra.
Urinary Tract Obstruction
Anything that blocks the urethra can lead to the buildup of urine.
This buildup stretches the tissues, causing significant urethral pain.
Chronic urinary tract infections may also lead to kidney disease.
Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritis (Reiter’s syndrome) is another potential cause of urethral pain.
This jot down of arthritis is because of a bacterial infection in the urinary or gastrointestinal tract.
It develops in the large leg joints, causing joint pain, swelling, and redness.
The three conditions may occur simultaneously or flare up at different times.
Radiation therapy may also result in chronic pain (radiation cystitis).
There are some bladder-irritating foods, as well, that may irritate the urethra and cause pain.
Common culprits include:
7.
Trauma
Injuries to the urethra are rare, but can happen from:
8.
Contact dermatitis (mentioned above as a cause of urethritis) is one such skin problem.
Two additional skin conditions that may cause urethral pain include:
9.
Vaginal Causes
Problems in the vagina and products used in or around the vagina can irritate the urethra.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of urethral problems starts with a careful medical history.
They will also ask about any urological problems you have had in the past.
Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam, including an abdominal and pelvic exam.
They will look for urethral discharge, ulcers, and enlargedinguinallymph nodes (lymph nodes in the groin).
Depending on the results, they may order further tests or recommend a referral to a urologist.
Your healthcare provider may do a urine culture to determine if an infection is present.
This test identifies the punch in of bacteria present and its sensitivity to antibiotics.
This knowledge helps determine the specific antibiotic that will be most effective in fighting an infection.
You may need other blood tests to verify a diagnosis or rule out conditions with similar symptoms.
Imaging
Imaging tests are typically not used to evaluate urethritis.
Diagnostic Procedures
Acystoscopyis a test that involves inserting a narrow lighted tube into the urethra and bladder.
It may be done to:
Your healthcare provider can also perform minor repairs during a cystoscopy.
Treatment
The treatment of urethral pain depends on the underlying cause.
That said, some conditions are more urgent than others.
Untreated infections, especially STIs, can permanently damage reproductive organs.
Even in the absence of symptoms, infections can lead to long-term complications.
To accurately diagnose what is causing pain in your urethra, your healthcare provider will do a physical exam.
They may also order labs and imaging tests.
Treatment depends on the cause and may include antibiotics, antiparasitics, antivirals, or symptom management.
Urethral pain is never normal.
If you have pain in your urethra, be sure to see your healthcare provider.
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