The tube that carries urine from the bladder is called the urethra. The urethra is wide enough to allow an uninterrupted flow of urine. But due to certain conditions, it can become narrow and lead to a restricted flow of urine.

What is Urethral Stricture?

When the urethra narrows and causes discomfort while urinating, it is known as urethral stricture. It is a medical condition that is more common in men than women.

What is the cause of Urethral Stricture?

In most cases, the cause of urethral stricture is unknown. But the most common causes include:

• An injury caused to the penis during an activity like cycling
• An infection that resulted in causing urethral stricture.

How do you know you have a urethral stricture?

Some of the common symptoms of urethral stricture include:

• Pain during urination
• Inability to empty the bladder
• Decreased urine flow or frequent need to urinate
• Blood in urine
• Inability to control urine
• Urethral discharge
• Dark urine

If you experience one or more of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. If left untreated, the urethral stricture can affect kidneys and lead to bladder-related complications

How is urethral stricture diagnosed?

Urethral stricture can be diagnosed by following methods:

• Physical Examination:

The doctor will conduct a physical examination based on the symptoms and medical history of the patient

• Urinalysis or Urine Test:

It checks the appearance, concentration, and presence of blood in the urine.

• Urine Culture:

Urine culture is the study of urine to detect any signs of infection that may have resulted from urethral stricture.

• Uroflowmetry:

It is a clinical test used to measure the flow of urine. The patient is asked to void in a specialized toilet that measures the speed of the urine flow.

• Ultrasound:

An ultrasound of the bladder determines the amount of urine retained in the bladder after urination. It is known as Post-void Residual Urine Study.

• Retrograde Urethrogram (RUG) & Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG):

It is a diagnostic test that uses an X-ray and a contrasting dye to determine the severity of urethral stricture.

• Cystoscopy:

With the help of a fiberoptic telescope, the urinary tract is inspected. This procedure helps to understand the cause of obstruction.

• Sounurethrogram :

It is usually performed before the operation. It uses an ultrasound probe to image the stricture and measure the degree of urethral stricture.

How can urethral stricture be treated?

The currently available treatment options are quite risky. The health risks involved in these treatments include:

• High chances of infection
• Impotency
• Irreversible damage to urinary tract
• Very Painful

Not all patients require surgery. Some patients can also be treated with non-surgical procedures such as dilation, while others are advised to have surgery. Apart from the existing stricture treatments, there is one more safe and natural method called Uregrow.

Regrow Biosciences has introduced Uregrow, a natural and considerably safer treatment. It is an autogenous procedure, as cells are isolated from the patient's own body. It is a natural treatment that can help restore the normal flow of urine and improve the quality of life.