From the Guidelines
Ignoring a urethral stricture can lead to severe complications, including urinary tract infections, epididymitis, bladder calculi, urethral abscess, urethral carcinoma, and chronic kidney injury from obstructive uropathy. The consequences of ignoring a urethral stricture can be devastating, with the narrowing of the urethra progressively restricting urine flow, causing increasingly difficult and painful urination, weak stream, and incomplete bladder emptying 1. This retention of urine creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth, leading to recurrent urinary tract infections that may become resistant to antibiotics.
Some of the potential complications of untreated urethral stricture include:
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Epididymitis
- Rising post-void residual (PVR) urine volume or decreased force of ejaculation
- Urinary spraying or dysuria
- Bladder calculi
- Urethral abscess
- Urethral carcinoma
- Chronic kidney injury from obstructive uropathy 1.
It is essential to seek prompt medical evaluation if symptoms like decreased urine flow, straining to urinate, or recurrent infections occur. Treatment options, such as urethral dilation, internal urethrotomy, or urethroplasty, are available and should be considered to prevent these complications 1. Early intervention is crucial to prevent the severe consequences of urethral stricture, and patients should not ignore their symptoms.
From the Research
Consequences of Ignoring a Urethral Stricture
- Ignoring a urethral stricture can lead to serious complications, including urinary infections and renal insufficiency secondary to urinary retention 2, 3.
- Urethral stricture disease can negatively impact quality of life and lead to significant urologic pathology, such as lower urinary tract symptoms, recurrent urinary tract infections, and potentially more severe sequelae like detrusor dysfunction, renal failure, urethral carcinoma, and Fournier's gangrene 4.
- If left untreated, urethral strictures can cause obstructive voiding dysfunction, which can ultimately impair renal function 3.
- The prevalence of urethral stricture among men in industrial countries is estimated at 0.9%, and it can be caused by diagnostic or therapeutic urological procedures, with 45% of cases being iatrogenic, 30% idiopathic, and 20% due to bacterial urethritis 3.
Potential Long-Term Complications
- Impaired renal function is a potential long-term complication of urethral stricture, which can be prevented with proper recognition and treatment 3.
- Urethral strictures can also lead to recurrent urinary tract infections, which can further exacerbate the condition 2, 4.
- In severe cases, urethral stricture can lead to more serious complications like urethral carcinoma and Fournier's gangrene 4.
Importance of Treatment
- Treatment of urethral stricture is crucial to prevent long-term complications and improve quality of life 2, 4, 3.
- Various treatment options are available, including catheterization, urethroplasty, endoscopic internal urethrotomy, and dilation, with the choice of treatment depending on the type, length, and etiology of the stricture, as well as patient health and preferences 2, 3, 5.