The physical exam may show:. A digital rectal exam will also be performed. Your provider may look into your bladder using a tube with a camera on the end. This is called cystoscopy. You may take both pain relievers for general body pain and products for localized urinary tract pain, plus antibiotics.
People with urethritis who are being treated should avoid sex, or use condoms during sex. Your sexual partner must also be treated if the condition is caused by an infection. Urethritis caused by trauma or chemical irritants is treated by avoiding the source of injury or irritation. Urethritis that does not clear up after antibiotic treatment and lasts for at least 6 weeks is called chronic urethritis.
Different antibiotics may be used to treat this problem. With the correct diagnosis and treatment, urethritis most often clears up without further problems. However, urethritis can lead to long-term damage to the urethra and scar tissue called urethral stricture. You may see improvement in your symptoms just a few days after beginning treatment. You should still finish out your prescription as recommended by your doctor, or the infection could come become worse. Those with urethritis should wait one week once they are completely finished with their prescription and their partner has finished treatment before resuming sexual activity.
Medication can often treat urethritis quickly. If the infection goes untreated, however, the effects can be lasting and quite serious. For example, the infection may spread to other parts of the urinary tract, including the ureters, kidneys, and bladder. These infections can be painful on their own. While they can be treated with more intensive rounds of antibiotics, they can cause damage to the organs if left untreated for too long.
These untreated infections can also spread to the blood and result in sepsis, which can be deadly. In addition, the STIs that frequently cause urethritis can damage the reproductive system. Women may develop pelvic inflammatory disease PID , which is painful and can result in infertility , ongoing pelvic pain, or pain during sex.
Women with untreated STIs are also at a higher risk for ectopic pregnancies , which can be life-threatening. Men may develop painful inflammation or infection of the prostate gland , or the narrowing of a section of the urethra due to scarring, leading to painful urination.
For these reasons, you should speak with a doctor as soon as possible if you notice any symptoms of urethritis. Many of the bacteria that cause urethritis can pass to another person through sexual contact. Because of this, practicing safe sex is an important preventive measure. The tips below can help reduce your risk:.
Aside from safer sex practices, there are other ways to promote good urinary tract health. This can lower your risk of urethritis and some other conditions that affect this part of the body. Drink plenty of fluids and make sure to urinate shortly after intercourse.
Avoid acidic foods. Also, avoid exposure to spermicides, particularly if you already know they irritate your urethra. Problems in the urethra can occur due to injury, tissue damage, infection, or aging. Pain in the urethra may be dull or sharp, and constant or…. After treatment has been completed and the symptoms have disappeared, it should be safe to start having sex again.
NGU is usually caused by an STI, so practising safer sex is the best way to reduce the chances of it. Safer sex involves using barrier contraception, such as condoms , and having regular checks at sexual health clinics. Return to the sexual health clinic if you still have symptoms after finishing your course of antibiotics. Women often have no symptoms of NGU. However, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease PID if it's caused by chlamydia and left untreated.
Repeated episodes of PID are associated with an increased risk of infertility. Page last reviewed: 06 March Next review due: 06 March Symptoms of non-gonococcal urethritis Symptoms of NGU in men include: a white or cloudy discharge from the tip of your penis a burning or painful sensation when you pee the tip of your penis feeling irritated and sore In women, NGU rarely causes any symptoms.
Read about the symptoms of NGU. When to seek medical advice Visit your local sexual health clinic if you have symptoms of NGU or you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection STI. It most often affects the brain and the liver. Learn about safe sex practices and use them. The safest sex is with a partner who does not have an STI and only has sex with you.
Condoms can help keep you from getting some STIs. These include gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV. But condoms can't guarantee you won't get these diseases. Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. If an STI culture was taken, call as directed for the result. If you are diagnosed with an STI, follow up with your provider or your local health department. Was this helpful? Yes No Tell us more. Check all that apply.
Wrong topic—not what I was looking for. It was hard to understand. It didn't answer any of my questions. I still don't know what to do next. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.
0コメント