Urethritis

Urethritis means ‘inflammation of the urethra’, and it can have a few causes, including infection and irritation.

Symptoms of urethritis

Urethritis tends to show up as burning or stinging upon urination, blood in the urine, frequent urination and urgency to urinate, but often not much urine comes out.

The urethra feels irritated, either mildly or severely. If there is blood in your urine, you have a fever, or are in severe pain, you may have a severe infection and should seek medical attention.

Some underlying causes of urethritis

• Urinary tract infection
• Urethral syndrome (inflammation without infection usually caused by an external factor like soap, toilet paper or laundry detergent)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Gonorrhoea
• Chlamydia
• Mycoplasma genitalium
• Urethral cancer
• Urethral prolapse
• Urethral caruncles
• Urethral diverticula

If you have urinary symptoms, you need to be tested for infection, since this is the most common cause of urethritis.