Urethral Inflammation Requiring Investigation
Urethritis causes painful urination and discharge. Most commonly caused by STIs, it requires proper testing to identify the cause and guide effective treatment. Both men and women can be affected.
Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra - the tube that carries urine from the bladder. It causes pain, burning, and often discharge. In sexually active people, urethritis is usually caused by sexually transmitted infections, most commonly chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Proper testing identifies the specific cause, which is essential for appropriate treatment. Untreated urethritis can lead to complications.
We test urine and/or urethral swabs for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and other pathogens using PCR. Microscopy can detect inflammation. We distinguish between gonococcal urethritis (caused by gonorrhoea) and non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU, caused by other organisms). Testing for M. genitalium is important if standard tests are negative. Full STI screening is recommended.
Treatment depends on the cause. Gonorrhoea requires specific antibiotics (often injection plus oral). Chlamydia is treated with doxycycline. M. genitalium needs resistance-guided treatment. Empirical treatment may start before results if symptoms are significant. Partners need testing and treatment. Avoid sex until treatment completed and symptoms resolved.
In sexually active people, urethritis is usually caused by STIs. However, non-infectious causes exist including trauma, chemical irritation, catheter use, and reactive urethritis. If STI tests are negative but symptoms persist, we investigate other causes. Your sexual history helps guide our approach.
Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra, often from STIs. UTIs (urinary tract infections) are bacterial infections of the bladder/urinary system, usually caused by gut bacteria like E. coli. UTIs are more common in women. Symptoms overlap, so testing distinguishes them. Treatment differs depending on the cause.
Yes, women can have urethritis, though it's diagnosed less often because symptoms may be milder or attributed to other conditions. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can infect the female urethra. Women with urinary symptoms and STI risk should be tested for both UTIs and STIs.
Recurrent urethritis is usually due to: reinfection from untreated partners, infection with resistant organisms (especially M. genitalium), incomplete treatment, or a different organism not covered by initial treatment. Persistent cases need comprehensive testing and partner management. We can investigate thoroughly.
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