In medical language, the urethra is called the urethra. This is a thin channel, covered from the inside by a mucous membrane. Discomfort in the urethra in women can signal the development of infectious processes in the organs of the urinary system. Girls are often embarrassed to seek the advice of a nephrologist or urologist with such a delicate problem. If you leave the development of the disease without attention, this can lead to serious complications.
Features of the structure of the urethra in women
The urethra in women is shorter and thinner than in men. From the inside, the walls are covered with mucous membrane, followed by a layer of muscle tissue and connective fibers. The length of the urethra in women is from three to five centimeters, and the diameter is not more than one and a half centimeters.
The function of the organ in women is the excretion of urine, and in men through it the excretion of seminal fluid is also carried out.
Microflora is becoming a common cause of discomfort in the urethra in women. The number of pathological microorganisms depends on the age of the patient and the state of her immunity. In an adult healthy woman, the vast majority of microorganisms are lactobacilli. Saprophytic staphylococci and epidermal staphylococci on the mucosa are also acceptable. The presence of up to 10% of bifidobacteria is also considered the norm for women from thirty to sixty years old.
Methods for studying the state of the urethral mucosa
For an accurate diagnosis of the causes of discomfort in the urethra in women, a smear is most often taken. Such a study is carried out in the direction of a nephrologist, gynecologist or urologist. The purpose of taking a smear is to determine the presence of infection, such as pathogens, pathogenic microflora, erosion or ulcers.
The following conditions are indications for taking a smear from the urethra:
- Pain and burning during urination.
- Unpleasant sensations in the urethra.
- Suspicion of an inflammatory process.
- Suspected sexually transmitted diseases.
A smear can be taken directly in the office of a gynecologist or urologist, if this is a routine examination. This procedure is quite painful if the urethral mucosa is irritated.
Before taking a smear to determine the cause of discomfort in the urethra in women, you need to follow some rules:
- Seven days before the analysis, do not take antibiotics.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages seven to ten days before taking a smear.
- For twelve hours do not have sexual intercourse.
- Do not urinate an hour or two before the test.
To accurately diagnose the cause of the problem, the following tests are performed:
- Urine according to Nechiporenko.
- Bacteriological seeding.
- Blood chemistry.
- A blood test for glucose.
- Pelvic ultrasound.
Causes of discomfort in the urethra in women
Determining the exact cause yourself is difficult. Most often, for this purpose, an examination by a nephrologist, gynecologist or urologist and a study of the analysis results are necessary. The most common causes of urethral discomfort in women:
- Allergic reactions to certain types of medications, to food products, to underwear made of synthetic materials.
- A variety of injuries.
- Cystitis.
- Urogenital infections.
- Urethritis and urogenital chlamydia.
- Gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.
- Inflammation of the cervix.
- Increased emotional and physical stress.
- Infectious diseases of the urinary system.
After conducting a competent diagnosis, we can talk about the appointment of drug treatment.
Urogenital infections
The most common infections that cause discomfort in the urethra in women are:
- Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection. It is characterized by a burning sensation during urination and discomfort in the urethra throughout the day.
- Symptoms of candidiasis - in addition to burning and pain in the urethra during urination, the presence of cheesy discharge with an unpleasant odor from the vagina is also characteristic.
- Genital herpes leads not only to burning in the urethra in women, but also to the appearance of rough or smooth seals, painful when pressed.
- Bacterial vaginosis is a type of urogenital infection that can develop only in one case - if the microflora of the vaginal mucosa does not have enough lactobacilli.
Symptoms of urogenital infections in women:
- Burning, pain during urination.
- Pain in the pelvic area.
- Severe swelling of the labia.
- Inflammation of the cervical canal, fallopian tubes.
- Inflammation of the walls of the vagina and large gland of its vestibule.
Urogenital Chlamydia
Chlamydia of the urogenital type manifests itself as an inflammatory disease of the genitourinary organs, prostate gland, and bladder. It is possible to become infected only through sexual intercourse. Infection can be detected in both men and women. Both men and women can become carriers.
Symptoms of urogenital chlamydia in women are manifested in the following:
- Purulent vaginal discharge.
- Curdled, thick mucus with an unpleasant odor from the vagina.
- A slight increase in temperature.
- Weakness and asthenia.
- In parallel, urethritis, cystitis, and bacterial vaginosis develop.
Diagnosis of urogenital chlamydia is quite complicated and consists of several research methods:
- Cytological (examination of biological material under a microscope to determine the type of pathogen. This method is not always effective.
- Immunofluorescence, in which smears taken from the urethra are stained with antichlamydial antibodies - the fluorescent component is introduced and the glow of microorganisms is detected under a special microscope.
- The serological method reveals pathological microorganisms by the reaction of immunoglobulins.
- Molecular biological - carrying out a polymerase chain reaction to search for deoxyribonucleic acid in a smear from the urethra and cervical canal.
Urethritis in women: symptoms and signs
The reasons for the development of this disease are most often the following:
- The presence of sexually transmitted infections of a hidden and overt course.
- Damage to the mucous epithelium of the genitals.
- Violation of sterility during medical procedures (for example, insertion of a catheter into the urethra).
- Local or general hypothermia.
- Chronic inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, bladder.
The causes of chronic urethritis are diverse. Based on them, urology divides the disease into two types: infectious and non-infectious urethritis. The treatment of each of these species has important differences.
The main symptoms of urethritis in women (if the disease is of an infectious nature) is most often accompanied by a mild fever. The patient also develops weakness, asthenia, and severe and sharp pain in the urethra when urinating. In this case, it is necessary to undergo examination by a urologist and gynecologist, to accurately determine the type of pathogen. After that, a course of effective antibiotics will be prescribed.
With urethritis of a non-specific nature, the disease is milder and does not bring pronounced discomfort. This type of urethritis is characterized by the secretion of mucus with an unpleasant odor.
Gonorrhea and trichomoniasis
Among sexually transmitted diseases, the most common causes of discomfort in the urethra in women are gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. The manifestations of these ailments are very similar. However, treatment will vary dramatically.
Trichomoniasis causes urogenital trichomonas. This is a unicellular microbe that multiplies very quickly in the human body, fixing itself in the organs of the urinary system. After a few days, the urogenital trichomonas multiplies to such an amount that it can provoke an inflammatory process.
In relatively rare cases, trichomoniasis can be transmitted by domestic means, for example, through a toilet seat or a common towel. In conditions of high humidity and heat, Trichomonas can continue to live for some time outside the human body.
A feeling of discomfort in the urethra is also characteristic of gonorrhea. Gonococcus is the causative agent of this disease. After entering the body, it does not manifest itself in two weeks, and then it becomes the cause of the inflammatory process.
Gonorrhea can be infected as follows:
- Sexual intercourse.
- Domestic way (the probability is small).
- Transmission from mother to baby (through the birth canal).
Cervical inflammation
This is the most common cause among diseases of the genital organs, which provokes a burning sensation in the urethra in women.
Causes of cervical inflammation:
- Hypothermia.
- Long sitting on a cold surface.
- Low general and local immunity.
- The inflammatory process in neighboring organs.
If you start therapy at the first stage of the development of the disease, then the inflammation goes away quite easily. For treatment, antibiotic or anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as immunomodulators, can be prescribed.
Increased emotional and physical stress
Women should not underestimate the health effects of chronic fatigue. This can be said about being in constant stress. Inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system often have psychosomatic causes.
Pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis, which often provoke the development of urethritis and cystitis, occur with low immunity and in stressful situations. The weakest draft is enough for a weakened person to get sick.
No need to check your physical and psychological state for strength. Often this has serious health consequences. You should fully eat, sleep at least eight hours a day, do not bring yourself to a state of stress, communicating with unpleasant personalities.
Infectious diseases of the urinary system
Discomfort in the urethra in women often occurs in the presence of infectious diseases of the urinary system. These are the kidneys, ureters, adrenal glands, bladder.
With pyelonephritis, severe pain and burning sensation during urination are felt, the temperature rises to forty degrees, the patient experiences weakness, an asthenic state. Pyelonephritis can occur chronically or in acute form. In both cases, treatment is necessary based on the symptoms.
Glomerulonephritis is similar in symptoms to pyelonephritis. It is difficult to distinguish these diseases without conducting special studies. Statistics show that women are more likely to suffer from pyelonephritis, and men - from glomerulonephritis. This fact does not exclude the possibility that pyelonephritis can be diagnosed in representatives of the stronger sex.
Cystitis is more often diagnosed in women. This is an inflammation of the walls of the bladder, in which pain and pain in the urethra are characteristic both with urination and without it. In the early stages, homeopathic remedies and infusions of herbs can help, and in the later stages, antibiotic therapy can not be dispensed with.
Treatment of urethritis symptoms in women
Therapy and prophylaxis are not possible at home, since regular expert examination and monitoring of blood and urine tests are necessary. To get rid of the disease forever, you need to undergo a course of treatment.
Often patients stop therapy as soon as the symptoms of urethritis disappear. However, this is a gross mistake. You can stop therapy only after the belief that the inflammation (or infection) has completely left the body.
Bacterial urethritis is treated with antibiotics and fluoroquinolone drugs. Locally prescribed baths from infusion of chamomile, calendula, yarrow. These herbs help get rid of itching and burning.
Trichomonas urethritis in women is eliminated by a venereologist. Treatment until complete recovery usually takes several months. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and vitamin preparations are used. After the course, it is necessary to drink immunomodulators to increase the overall tone of the immune system.
Therapy for infectious diseases of the urinary system
If burning, pain and discomfort in the urethra are provoked by inflammation of the kidneys, then the following drugs will come to the rescue:
- "Kanefron".
- "Renel."
- "Fitolizin".
- Monural.
Be sure to pass a general blood and urine test, undergo an ultrasound of the kidneys. These studies will provide a minimal idea of how far the disease has gone. In some cases, without a course of antibiotics, it will not be possible to relieve inflammation.
If burning, pain and discomfort in the urethra are provoked by inflammation of the bladder, then “Cyston” will come to the rescue. This is a combined preparation, the effect of which is due to safe components (bipodiate flower extract, membranous rhizome rhizome, all parts of the plant Vernonia ash, the aerial part of the onosma flowering, mummy cleared). This drug has virtually no side effects and contraindications. Cystitis can not be started. It often causes chronic kidney disease.