In medical parlance, the urethra is called the urethra. This is a thin channel, covered from the inside with 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 advice from a nephrologist or urologist with such a delicate problem. If the development of the disease is left unattended, 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 a 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 no more than one and a half centimeters.
The function of an organ in women is the excretion of urine, and in men, through it, the excretion of seminalliquid.
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 he althy 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.
Methods for examining the condition 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, type of pathogens, pathogenic microflora, erosions or ulcers.
Indications for taking a swab from the urethra are the following conditions:
- Pain and burning when urinating.
- Discomfort in the urethra.
- Suspicion of an inflammatory process.
- Suspicion for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
A smear can be taken directly in the office of a gynecologist or urologist if it is a preventive 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:
- Do not take antibiotics seven days before the test.
- Seven to ten days before taking a smear, do not drink alcoholic beverages.
- Do not have sexual intercourse in twelve hours.
- An hour or two beforepassing the test do not urinate.
To accurately diagnose the cause of the problem, the following tests are performed:
- Urine according to Nechiporenko.
- Bacteriological culture.
- Biochemical blood test.
- Blood glucose test.
- Pelvic ultrasound.
Causes of discomfort in the urethra in women
It is difficult to determine the exact cause on your own. Most often, for this purpose, it is necessary to examine a nephrologist, gynecologist or urologist and study the results of the tests. The most common causes of urethral discomfort in women are:
- Allergic reactions to certain types of medicines, food, synthetic underwear.
- Various 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 a competent diagnosis, we can talk about prescribing drug treatment.
Urogenital infections
The most common infections that cause discomfort in the urethra in women:
- Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection. It is characterized by burning during urination and discomfort in the urethra duringall day long.
- Symptoms of candidiasis - in addition to burning and pain in the urethra during urination, the presence of curdled discharge with an unpleasant odor from the vagina is also characteristic.
- Genital herpes leads not only to a burning sensation in the urethra in women, but also to the appearance of rough or smooth seals that are painful when pressed.
- Bacterial vaginosis refers to a type of urogenital infections 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 when urinating.
- Pelvic pain.
- Severe swelling of the labia.
- Inflammation of the cervical canal, fallopian tubes.
- Inflammation of the walls of the vagina and the large gland of its vestibule.
Urogenital chlamydia
Chlamydia urogenital type manifests itself as an inflammatory disease of the genitourinary organs, prostate gland, bladder. It can only be contracted through sexual intercourse. The infection can be found in both men and women. Both a man and a woman can become a carrier.
Symptoms of urogenital chlamydia in women are as follows:
- Purulent vaginal discharge.
- Curdled, thick, foul-smelling mucus from the vagina.
- Slight increase in temperature.
- Weakness and asthenia.
- In parallel, urethritis, cystitis, bacterial vaginosis develops.
Diagnosis of urogenitalchlamydia is quite complex 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.
- Immunofluorescent, in which smears taken from the urethra are stained with anti-chlamydial antibodies - a fluorescent component is injected and the glow of microorganisms is detected under a special microscope.
- The serological method detects pathological microorganisms by the reaction of immunoglobulins.
- Molecular biological - conducting 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 most common causes of this disease are:
- Presence of sexually transmitted infections of latent and overt course.
- Damage to the mucous epithelium of the genitals.
- Violation of sterility during medical procedures (for example, inserting a catheter into the urethra).
- Local or general hypothermia.
- Chronic inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, bladder.
The causes of chronic urethritis are varied. Based on them, urology divides the disease into two types: infectious and non-infectious urethritis. Treatment for each of these types has important differences.
The main symptoms of urethritis in women (if the disease is of an infectious nature) is most often accompanied by a slight increase in temperature. Also atthe patient develops weakness, asthenia, severe and sharp pain in the urethra during urination. In this case, it is necessary to be examined by a urologist and gynecologist, to accurately determine the type of infectious agent. After that, a course of effective antibiotics will be prescribed.
With urethritis of a nonspecific nature, the disease is milder and does not bring pronounced discomfort. This type of urethritis is characterized by the discharge 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 conditions of the human body, gaining a foothold in the organs of the urinary system. A few days later, the urogenital Trichomonas multiplies to such an amount that can provoke an inflammatory process.
In relatively rare cases, trichomoniasis can be transmitted through the household, for example, through the toilet seat or a shared towel. In conditions of high humidity and heat, Trichomonas can continue its vital activity outside the human body for some time.
The 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 any way for two weeks, and then becomes the cause of the inflammatory process.
Catch gonorrheapossibly as follows:
- Intercourse.
- In a domestic way (probability is low).
- 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:
- Hypercooling.
- Long sitting on a cold surface.
- Low general and local immunity.
- 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. Antibiotic or anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as immunomodulators, may be prescribed for treatment.
Increased emotional and physical stress
Women should not underestimate the he alth impact of chronic fatigue. The same can be said about being under 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 being in stressful situations. For a weakened person, the slightest draft is enough to get sick.
You don't need to test your physical and psychological condition. This often has serious he alth consequences. You should eat well, sleep at least eight hours a day, do not bring yourself to a state of stress, communicating withunpleasant 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, there is severe pain and burning during urination, the temperature rises to forty degrees, the patient experiences weakness, asthenic condition. Pyelonephritis can be chronic or acute. Both cases require treatment based on symptoms.
Glomerulonephritis is similar in appearance 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 also be diagnosed in the stronger sex.
Cystitis is more often diagnosed in women. This is an inflammation of the walls of the bladder, which is characterized by pain and pain in the urethra, both during urination and without it. In the early stages, homeopathic remedies and herbal infusions can help, and in the later stages, antibiotic therapy is indispensable.
Treating symptoms of urethritis in women
Therapy and prevention are not possible at home, as regular examination by a specialist and monitoring of blood and urine tests are necessary. In order to get rid ofdiseases 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 you are sure that the inflammation (or infection) has completely left the body.
Urethritis of a bacterial nature is treated with antibiotics and drugs of the fluoroquinolone group. Locally prescribed baths of infusion of chamomile, calendula, yarrow. These herbs help relieve itching and burning.
Trichomonas urethritis in women is eliminated by a venereologist. Treatment until complete recovery, as a rule, takes several months. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and vitamin preparations are used. After the course, you need 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:
- "Canephron".
- "Renel".
- "Phytolysin".
- "Monural".
You must definitely 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 remove the inflammation.
If burning, pain and discomfort in the urethra are provoked by inflammation of the bladder, then "Cyston" will come to the rescue. ita combined preparation, the action of which occurs due to safe components (extract of flowers of the bicarp, rhizomes of membranous satiety, all parts of the ashen plant, the aerial part of the flowering osma, purified mummy). This drug has practically no side effects and contraindications. Cystitis cannot be started. It often causes chronic kidney disease.
