Urethral Stricture Disease
Urethral Stricture Disease
What is a urethral stricture in men?
A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder to outside your body. When something makes the urethra get tighter, it's hard for urine to pass out of your body. Strictures are more common in men than in women.
Doctors sometimes don't know what causes a stricture. Often it's caused by an injury to the area around a man's scrotum. An injury can be from a fall, a procedure, or an infection, such as a sexually transmitted infection.
Appointment Information
If you are a patient looking to receive kind and compassionate care at the leading urologic practice in Michigan, call 734–936–7030 to make an appointment.
What are the symptoms of a urethral stricture in men?
Your urine may come out very slowly or in a weak stream. You may have belly pain from urine building up in your bladder. It may hurt to pass urine. You may not be able to control the leaking of urine. You may also have blood in your urine and urinary tract infections.
How is a urethral stricture in men diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history and do a physical exam. You may have tests to check to see how fast urine flows through your urethra and how much is held in your bladder. An ultrasound or an X-ray test can show urine as it moves through your urethra.
How is a urethral stricture in men treated?
Your doctor may recommend urethral dilation. This procedure widens the urethra. A thin tube called a catheter may be left in the urethra for a few days. It helps to keep the urethra open while it heals.
In some cases, the doctor also may do a procedure called a urethrotomy. The doctor uses a thin, lighted tool called a cystoscope. The scope has a special blade at the tip to cut through scar tissue. That can help widen the urethra.
If dilation can't be done or doesn't help, you may need surgery to remove the scar tissue. At the same time, your doctor can rebuild the urethra. This is called urethroplasty.
Locations
-
Urology Clinic | Brighton Center for Specialty Care 7500 Challis Rd
Entrance 1, Level 2
Brighton, MI 48116-9416Get Directions -
Urology Clinic | Northville Health Center 39901 Traditions Dr
Floor 2
Northville, MI 48168-9493Get Directions -
Urology Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
Floor 2 Reception C
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5330Get Directions
Doctors
Sapan Nitin Ambani, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Urology
Bahaa Sami Malaeb, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Urology
News & Stories
Urine-based test detects aggressive prostate cancer
How donor eggs helped one couple build the family they always hoped for
What causes infertility? A doctor answers common questions and clears up misconceptions
Insurance that covers male infertility procedures improves opportunities for family building
IVF insurance coverage varies greatly among larger employers