Urethritis

Urethritis is inflammation of the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside of the body (urethra). It can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection (like some sexually transmitted infections), irritation from soap or spermicide, or injury.

Symptoms of urethritis can include:

Pain or burning during urination (dysuria).
An urgent need to urinate.
A need to urinate more often than usual.
A clear, yellow, or green discharge from the urethra.

When urethritis is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic medicine is used to treat it.

Credits

By:

Healthwise Staff

Last Revised: May 16, 2011

Medical Review:

E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology

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