A 26-year-old Visakhapatnam resident, Sharath Kumar (name changed) went to a private hospital after experiencing a burning sensation and a discharge of pus from his urinary passage. He was advised to undergo a urine test and a swab was taken from his urinary passage (urethra) as well. The tests confirmed that he had gonococcal urethritis, which is a condition in men where urethral discharge occurs due to a urethral infection.
Dr Amit Saple, executive director and senior consultant urologist, andrologist and transplant surgeon at Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Visakhapatnam, who treated Sharath told Happiest Health that upon further investigation, it was found out that he had multiple sexual partners. He did not use any protective measures while having sexual intercourse. He was prescribed medication and is now on the road to recovery.
Gonococcal urethritis is the most common type of urethritis in men, which is caused due to one of the partners having an infection. Young adult males aged 20 to 50 years with urethritis symptoms were part of a study published in the journal Scientific Reports in 2023. Of the 365 individuals with urethritis-like symptoms, 139 individuals were diagnosed with gonococcal or chlamydia urethritis.
What is urethritis and how is it caused?
Urethritis is an inflammation of urethra (a tube through which urine passes out of the bladder) causing painful urination and burning sensation while urinating with occasional urethral discharge (mucus, pus or blood) in urine, says Dr Mohammed Shahid Ali, consultant- urology, andrology and robotic surgery and transplantation, Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore.
While urethritis affects the lower urinary tract in men, it is mainly caused due to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). “Commonly caused as a result of infections, especially the gonococcal infections, chlamydia and Human Herpes Virus (HHV),” says Dr Ravichandran K, consultant, Urology, Uro-Oncology & Robotic Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore.
“Non-infectious causes like catheterization due to some surgery can also lead to inflammation or irritation in the urethra causing urethritis,” added Dr Saple.
Unhygienic sexual practices can cause urethritis in men
Experts highlight that the condition is quite common in sexually active young men due to reasons such as having multiple partners or engaging in sexual intercourse without the use of any contraceptives.
Karan Singh (name changed), 34, was diagnosed with urethritis after three months of marriage. This IT employee from Bangalore went to a urologist after experiencing a burning sensation and problem of passing urine frequently. Karan mentioned to his doctor that he had been using a lubricant during sexual intercourse and then started experiencing these symptoms, and his wife experienced vaginal discharge and burning sensation as well, explained Dr Ravichandran.
As he practiced unhygienic sexual practices, Karan was prescribed medication and prescribed anti-inflammatory measures to control his condition. His spouse was also suggested to seek urology consultation. They were advised to take barrier contraceptives such as condoms during intimacy to help prevent the development of urethritis. His condition improved after taking proper medication, added Dr Ravichandran.
How is it different from Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)?
Unlike UTI, urethritis cannot be treated by increasing the fluid intake. Since, it is caused due to bacteria and leads to inflammation of urethra, the person having the condition needs to take oral medications to deal with the condition, says Dr Ravichandran.
Sometimes, the individuals may also present with symptoms like fever and sometimes, even after treatment, because of repeated infection, the urethra can become narrow, leading to urethral stricture.
Managing urethritis in men
Urethritis can also become severe if the condition is not treated adequately or diagnosed early. Dr Ravichandran says that individuals take over-the-counter (OTC) pills for a day or two without undergoing urine culture and that leads to causing more harm. Experts suggest the following tips to reduce the risk of Urethritis and prevent its recurrence.
1. Avoid having multiple sexual partners
Often, the bacteria that causes urethritis is passed to another person through sexual contact. “Hence, avoiding multiple sexual partners can help in lowering the risk of urethritis,” explains Dr Saple.
2. Follow barrier method and safe sex practices
Urethritis is usually caused due to unhygienic sexual practices like not using barrier contraceptives during sexual intercourse and also as a part of urinary tract infection. Dr Ravichandran stresses that the best way to prevent STIs is practicing safe sex and good hygiene.
3. Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated
Drinking lots of water dilutes the urine, flushes out bacteria and helps in reducing the pain and discomfort. Hence, it is recommended to drink plenty of water, added Dr Ali.
4. Avoid chemicals that irritate or cause burning sensation in the urethra
Non-infectious urethritis can be caused due to the allergies arising from the personal care products like body washes, soaps or lubricants used during sexual intercourse.
5. Avoid OTC pills and seek medical help
Avoid OTC pills for immediate relief and reach out to doctors, says Dr Ali. OTC pills often lead to worsening the condition and cause urethral stricture. Experts recommend getting tested regularly and at the right time to avoid complications.
Takeaways
- Urethritis is the inflammation in the urethra that causes urethral discharge and burning sensation while urinating.
- Urethritis in men is mainly caused due to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) but can also result from infections like gonococcal infections, chlamydia and Human Herpes Virus (HHV).
- Practicing safe sex practices, avoiding multiple partners and drinking lots of water can lower the risk of urethritis.
