Urethritis
Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra, or urethra. This pathology is a fairly common disease, most often found in men. Infection with urethritis usually occurs during sexual intercourse, when the mucous membrane of the urethra is affected by various microorganisms, which, in turn, leads to its inflammation.
Predisposing factors for the development of urethritis
hypothermia of the body
damage to the urethra during penile injuries, at the time of stone discharge (with urolithiasis), during surgical operations, etc.
chronic inflammatory processes in the body
severe physical and mental stress
insufficient water intake
violation of urination (inhibition of urges)
the use of products that irritate the mucous membrane of the urinary tract (salty, sour, spicy or spicy food)
At the same time, the presence of such conditions does not always imply the development of urethritis, the disease can occur both in their absence (for example, with a general weakening of the body) and with a minor manifestation.
Specific and non-specific forms of urethritis
Depending on the causes of the disease, there are specific and nonspecific forms of urethritis. A specific one develops as a result of throwing an infection (chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, trichomonas, gonococci, gardnerella) onto the walls of the urethra during sexual intercourse. The nonspecific form is caused by conditionally pathogenic microflora (streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, proteus, etc.), which most often attack the urethra with toxic, allergic, radiation and other lesions. At the same time, the symptoms of inflammation occur immediately after the protective mechanisms of the immune system stop working.
Primary and secondary urethritis
In addition, it is customary to distinguish primary and secondary inflammation.
Primary urethritis develops directly in the urethra. The infection enters the urethra during unprotected sexual intercourse.
Secondary urethritis — secondary inflammation of the urethra occurs in the presence of other lesions in the body – pathological processes in the prostate gland, bladder and other departments.
Complications of urethritis
Urethritis often leads to the development of various complications. Men most often have prostatitis, vesiculitis, orchitis, balanitis, balanoposthitis, epididymitis, Reiter’s syndrome, urethral stricture (narrowing), the development of a chronic form of the disease. In most cases, women develop cystitis and the natural microflora of the vagina is disturbed. The occurrence of such complications is usually due to untimely diagnosis or lack of adequate treatment of pathology.
