Medicines for Urethritis

What it is

Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra — the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body (and, in men, also carries semen). It is a common condition, particularly in men, and one of its most frequent causes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Urethritis is often divided into that caused by the gonorrhoea bacteria (gonococcal urethritis) and that caused by other organisms (non-gonococcal urethritis, which is commonly due to chlamydia and other infections); it can also, less commonly, result from non-infectious causes, such as irritation or injury. The symptoms of urethritis can include: pain, burning, or stinging when passing urine; a discharge from the end of the penis (in men), which may be cloudy, white, or coloured; itching or irritation at the end of the urethra; needing to urinate more often; and, in some, discomfort. In women, urethritis can cause similar symptoms (such as pain passing urine), though symptoms may overlap with other conditions. Sometimes urethritis, particularly when due to an STI, causes few or no symptoms, especially in the early stages, which means an infection can be present and be passed on without the person knowing. Because urethritis is often caused by an STI, and because untreated STIs can lead to complications and be passed to sexual partners, it is important to get symptoms assessed, to test for the cause (including for STIs), and to treat it appropriately; sexual partners may also need testing and treatment. Urethritis is usually treatable, commonly with antibiotics once the cause is identified. It is important to seek assessment (a sexual health clinic or GP) for symptoms such as pain passing urine or a discharge, so the cause can be found and treated, and to avoid sexual contact until advised. The key messages are that urethritis is inflammation of the urethra, often due to an STI, that it causes pain passing urine and discharge (or sometimes few symptoms), and that it is treatable once the cause is identified, with testing and partner treatment important where an STI is involved.

How it is treated

Urethritis is assessed to identify the cause (including testing for STIs) and then treated accordingly — usually with antibiotics — with testing and treatment of sexual partners important where an STI is involved. If urethritis is suspected — from symptoms such as pain or burning when passing urine, or a discharge — it is important to get assessed, and a sexual health (genitourinary medicine, GUM) clinic or a GP can help. Assessment usually includes testing to identify the cause, which is important because urethritis is often due to an STI (such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or others): this may involve testing a urine sample and/or a swab, and testing for relevant STIs; sexual health clinics provide confidential testing and are experienced in assessing and treating these conditions. Treatment depends on the cause: where an infection is identified (or strongly suspected), antibiotics are given, chosen according to the likely or confirmed organism (for example, specific treatment for gonorrhoea, and appropriate antibiotics for chlamydia and non-gonococcal urethritis); it is important to complete the treatment as directed. Where an STI is the cause, some important additional steps apply: sexual partners should be tested and treated (partner notification, which sexual health clinics help with confidentially), to prevent reinfection and onward transmission; the person should avoid sexual contact until they and their partner(s) have completed treatment and been advised it is safe (as advised, for example a period after treatment); and testing for other STIs is often offered, as they can occur together. Follow-up may be advised to ensure the infection has cleared, particularly for certain infections. For non-infectious causes, the relevant cause is addressed. Preventing STIs — through safer sex (such as using condoms), regular testing if at risk, and prompt treatment — helps prevent urethritis and its complications, and untreated STIs can cause complications (such as, in some cases, effects on fertility or other problems), so testing and treatment matter. It is important to seek assessment rather than ignoring symptoms, and to seek prompt care if symptoms are severe, if there is fever or feeling unwell, or if there are complications. The reassuring messages are that urethritis is common and treatable — usually with antibiotics once the cause is identified — that sexual health clinics provide confidential, expert assessment and treatment, and that testing and treating partners (where an STI is involved) and safer sex help prevent reinfection and protect health.