Learn More About Urethral Strictures

A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra that develops from scar tissue buildup. 

Your urethra is the tube that travels from your bladder to your penis to transport urine out of your body. When scar tissue develops in your urethra, it blocks the flow of urine, leading to urethral stricture disease. 

Men are at a much higher risk of injuries and diseases that lead to urethral strictures since their urethra is much longer.

If a urethral stricture goes untreated, your urethra can become fully blocked, which can lead to incredibly dangerous health complications. 

So, our team, led by Paul Chung, MD, FACS, at his practices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wants to provide some warning signs that you could have a urethral stricture in this month’s blog.

What causes urethral stricture disease?

A urethral stricture is caused by chronic tissue inflammation or scar tissue buildup, and it can occur anywhere on your urethra’s path. While anything that causes abnormal tissue growth in your urethra can lead to urethral stricture disease, these are some common triggers:

• A traumatic injury to your penis or scrotum
• A sexually transmitted infection, such as gonorrhea
• Use of urinary catheters during medical procedures
• Urethral or prostate cancer
• Inflammatory skin conditions

Some of these lead to a slow and more subtle buildup of inflamed scar tissue and subsequent urethral blockage, while others cause dramatic and noticeable urethral changes.

Do you have urethral stricture disease?

Urethral stricture disease always requires treatment from a medical professional. Without medical intervention, you put yourself at risk for kidney stones, infections, or even a complete urethral blockage.

Since the scar tissue narrows your urethra, urine can’t flow freely, making a weaker flow of urine the most common symptom of a urethral stricture. As scar tissue continues to develop, you may notice other signs of a blockage, including:

• Spraying urine while peeing
• Pain while peeing
• Dark urine
• Bloody urine or semen
• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Prostate inflammation or infection

You may also find that you have to strain to pee and feel the need to pee frequently. 

How is urethral stricture disease treated?

When you visit Dr. Chung for a possible urethral stricture, he starts by performing a physical exam and using imaging tests to discover the location and severity of the blockage. 

In some cases, Dr. Chung may perform a minimally invasive procedure called a urethrotomy. He uses a camera to locate the stricture and excises it to restore full urine flow. However, many people find that it doesn’t provide lasting results and requires repeat procedures.

So, it’s often more effective for Dr. Chung to perform open surgery (urethroplasty) to fully remove the scar tissue and use skin grafts to reconstruct your urethra. 

For expert diagnosis and treatment of urethral stricture disease, schedule an appointment with Dr. Chung by calling your nearest office location or using our online booking feature today.