14 Most Common Symptoms of Urethritis

Urethritis occurs due to inflammation and infection of the urethra, the narrow tube that allows urine to flow from the bladder outside of the body. It’s important to note that urethritis is not the same condition as a urinary tract infection – which affects the entire urinary tract.

Urethritis typically occurs due to viral or bacterial infection, and its transmission occurs between sexual partners. The most common types of bacteria that cause urethritis are Neisseria gonorrhoeae, from Mycoplasma genitalium or Chlamydia trachomatis.

Should you develop this disease, you’ll need to visit your doctor for treatment. Most cases of viral urethritis tend to go away by itself after a few days. However, the bacterial type can be incredibly persistent, and your physician will prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria, and anti-inflammatories to manage the swelling.

Here are eight symptoms of urethritis, and what you can expect from their effects on the body.

1.    Discomfort and Pain while Urinating or During Ejaculation

Bacterial or viral urethritis causes swelling and inflammation of the urethra. As a result, the infected individual may notice that they start to experience a burning sensation when urinating. Men may also feel pain when they ejaculate.

These symptoms occur due to the fluids creating pain as they evacuate the body and create irritation on the inflamed tissues in the urethra. This symptom may surprise the patient, as it’s a common sign of sexually transmitted infection, and various STIs, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause burning sensations and pain when urinating or ejaculating.

Infected individuals who have sex with multiple partners may want to visit their doctor for a checkup and diagnosis of their condition. The doctor will screen your urine and blood for infection to uncover the cause of the pain and discomfort.

Test results are usually available with 24 to 48-hours after the doctor takes your samples.