Complications of a Urethral Stricture

A urethral stricture involves narrowing in the urethra, the tube in which urine leaves the bladder. A stricture can be caused by injury or infection that heals with scar tissue. The condition is rare in women. Complications can develop from this urethral stricture.

Symptoms

• The usual initial symptom of a urethral stricture is decreased urine flow. Other symptoms include straining to pass urine and dribbling or spraying of urine. The patient may also need to urinate more frequently and experience urgency severe enough to cause incontinence.

Infections

• Because the individual with a urethral stricture often cannot pass all the urine in the bladder, the urine is more susceptible to becoming infected. This can lead to bladder, prostate and kidney infections.

Bladder Stones

• A urethral stricture can result in bladder stones because of the chronic slowing and halting of urinary flow, and because of urinary tract infections.

Inflammation

• Chronic prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland), epididymitis (inflammation of the duct system that stores sperm) and cystitis (bladder inflammation) may occur due to a urethral stricture.

Abscess

• A tender mass (abscess) along the urethra may develop. This is a ball of infected cells and pus that can cause further damage to the urethra and tissues below the bladder.

Urethral Cancer

• One-third to one-half of men with urethral cancer have a history of urethral stricture, according to the Division of Urologic Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis.