{"id":6251,"date":"2019-05-02T03:15:24","date_gmt":"2019-05-02T03:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=6251"},"modified":"2021-04-01T19:05:52","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T19:05:52","slug":"14-things-that-trigger-urethritis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-things-that-trigger-urethritis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Things That Trigger Urethritis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Urethritis describes a condition that causes inflammation of the urethra, the tube that transports urine from the bladder. Patients who are experiencing this condition notice difficulty and pain when urinating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, urethritis occurs due to bacterial or viral infection, with chemical exposure sometimes causing symptoms as well. Urethritis is very different from a urinary tract infection, where the entire urinary tract experiences infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Urethritis transmits through sexual contact with an infected person and presents symptoms that are characteristic of bacterial or viral infection, such as;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Discomfort and pain when urinating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Strange vaginal or penile discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Pain during intercourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Abdominal and pelvic pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Fever and chills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Itching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Frequent or urgent urination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Fever and chills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Stomach pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Itching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms vary slightly between men and women, but the infection has the same causes. Here are eight things that trigger urethritis, and what strategies you can follow to treat your condition.
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1.    Viral Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of urethritis <\/a>\u2013 bacterial and viral. The viral type typically presents symptoms with less intensity and persistence than a bacterial infection. Most viral cases of urethritis resolve on their own in a few days, but there are instances where the patient may need to seek medical attention if their symptoms become unmanageable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viral urethritis spreads through sexual contact with an infected person and is usually a complication of infection with either the herpes simplex virus or cytomegalovirus. Either case presents mild symptoms that include a low-grade fever, pain when urinating, inflammation of the urethra, and pain during penetrative sex or ejaculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since most cases of urethritis resolver on their own, doctors may be hesitant to treat the patient with antibiotics for their infection. They will most likely opt for treatment with OTC medications to deal with symptoms as they occur. Anti-inflammatories and painkillers may be necessary if symptoms become severe.
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2.    Bacterial Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bacterial type of urethritis is typically more severe than a viral infection. Bacteria enter the urethra and migrate toward the bladder, causing symptoms of inflammation and swelling <\/a>that lead to pain when urinating. If left untreated, a bacterial urethritis infection may result in the development of a urinary tract infection, (UTI.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The common types of bacteria that cause bacterial urethritis infection include forms of gonococcal urethritis, namely Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or non-gonococcal urethritis due to Mycoplasma genitalium or the sexually transmitted disease – Chlamydia trachomatis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While viral urethritis tends to resolve on its own, patients with the bacterial type require treatment with antibiotics to address the infection. Those women who don\u2019t seek treatment risk the bacteria spreading into the cervix and ovaries, causing a condition known as, \u201cpelvic inflammatory disease, (PID.)\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PID is a severe inflammation of the tissues in the pelvic region, and women affected by this inflammatory disease may run the risk of developing cervical cancer.
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3.    Gonorrhea <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria occurs through sexual transmission with an infected partner. The bacteria enter the body through the urethra as it comes in contact with the body fluids. The bacteria migrate toward the bladder, causing inflammation and swelling along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Occasionally, gonorrhea <\/a>presents no symptoms in some patients, and they become \u201ccarriers\u201d of the disease. However, years later, the infected individual may find they suddenly start to develop symptoms of infection, and may have inadvertently infected multiple partners during this period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat gonorrhea infection using antibiotics. However, there are strains of the bacteria that are resistant to medication, making treatment a challenge for physicians. Should you develop a gonorrhea infection, its best to notify your recent partners as soon as possible to prevent the spread of the disease amongst the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testing for the bacteria involves swabbing the urethra, where a doctor inserts an earbud into the urethra to obtain a sample for lab testing.
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4.    Chlamydia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This bacterial infection occurs due to sexual contact with an infected partner. Chlamydia <\/a>is one of the most common STI\u2019s, with sexually active women between the age of 18 and 25-years old being most at risk of catching the infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people never develop any symptoms of chlamydia infection, becoming carriers of the disease. However, for those people that do experience symptoms, they will notice discharge, inflammation, and swelling of the urethra that causes painful urination and ejaculation, as well as testicular pain in men and irregular bleeding in women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chlamydia is another bacterial STI that spreads in the tissues in the pelvis, causing extensive inflammation of the urethra, cervix, and ovaries. This inflammation may lead to the onset of pelvic inflammatory disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat chlamydia with antibiotics, and most patients make a full recovery from the infection within a few days after treatment. Due to the infectious nature of the disease, it’s best if you contact your [previous sex partners to make them aware of your condition, and abstain from having sexual; contact with others for a few weeks after clearing the bacteria from your system.
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5.    Trichomonas <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The protozoan parasite, \u201cTrichomoniasis,\u201d is responsible for this sexually transmitted disease. \u201cTrich\u201d is the most common curable STI affecting people in the United States, with more than 3.7-million people infected with the parasite<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only around 30-percent of patients infected with the parasite ever experience any symptoms. However, those that do notice signs of swelling and inflammation of the urethra, as well as a burning sensation when urinating, painful ejaculation, and discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The highest risk group for this infection is women between the age of 18 and 25-years old that are sexually active. In men, the most commonly affected area is the urethra, but cases in women may spread to the cervix, ovaries, and vagina as well. If left untreated, symptoms in women can progress to the development of pelvic inflammatory disease and the onset of cervical cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat Trich with antibiotics to kill the parasite. Most cases present no lasting symptoms after receiving treatment.
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6.    Adenovirus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This viral infection occurs due to contact with another person carrying the virus. You might shake their hand or share food and drink with the infected individual, contracting the disease. Adenovirus has an incubation period of up to two weeks before it starts to show symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, adenovirus <\/a>may cause upper respiratory infection only. However, in other cases, the virus spreads to the digestive system, and the bladder as well. People with advanced infection affecting the gastrointestinal symptoms may also develop bladder infection that leads to a urinary tract infection and the onset of urethritis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most cases of adenovirus will work itself out of your system without medical intervention. However, in some circumstances, such as the gastrointestinal infection caused by adenovirus, the patient may need OTC medications to manage the symptoms of nausea, stomach pain, and cramping associated with the disease. Children are most at risk of contracting adenovirus due to contact with other infected children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7.    Escherichia coli (E. coli)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

E. coli<\/a> bacteria exists in the digestive systems of humans and animals, where it assists in the digestion of food. However, some strains of E. coli cause gastrointestinal infection, leading to symptoms of stomach pain, cramping, and diarrhea. In some cases, the type of bacteria can be very aggressive, presenting a danger for the infected individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diarrhea causes dehydration, which leads to the loss of fluids and minerals. Should the infected individual fail to replace these fluids and minerals, the body may experience an electrolyte imbalance, where the patient starts to suffer seizures and eventually falls into a coma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, E. coli infection lasts anywhere up to ten days and does not present the grim situation mentioned above. However, doctors may choose to administer antibiotics to kill the bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the bacteria infect the bladder, the patient may experience a urinary tract infection that leads to symptoms of urethritis.
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8.    Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a particular group of individuals more at risk of developing urethritis <\/a>than others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should you fall into the following risk categories for infection, it’s best if you pay careful attention to your hygiene and sexual behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women between the ages of 18 and 25-years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nursery school children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have a history of the previous infection with a sexually transmitted disease<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You engage in high-risk sexual behavior, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those sexually active individuals, the CDC recommends that you undergo regular screening for STI infection, regardless of whether or not you experience any symptoms of infection with a sexually transmitted disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who develop urethritis should also receive testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia as well. Most cases of urethritis occur as an underlying symptom of a more serious viral or bacterial infection \u2013 not a standalone condition. Speak to your doctor for advice on how to minimize your chances of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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