Why Men Get Urethritis and What Can Be Done About It

Urethritis doesn't refer to a specific ailment. Any infection of the urethra (the internal passage where urine exits the bladder) falls under the category. However, it's not the same as a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). While they may present similarly in patients, an Internal medicine doctor will be able to distinguish and recommend the correct course of treatment.

However, many people are reluctant to speak to a telemedicine doctor and get answers to genital-related medical questions.

When left untreated, urethritis in men can have major health implications. So go for a much easier diagnosis and treatment process! At TelMDCare, you can have access to a virtual doctor who's fully certified and qualified to handle the problem. Give us a call at +1-800-230-2050, and we'd be happy to talk you through the booking process.

Of course, you'll still have to describe the problem, but doing so in your own home or a safe space may make it less daunting. Our team guarantees full patient-doctor confidentiality, and in our services, you'll find treatments from the urgent care specialty and Internal medicine specialty. You can have access to all this and more via our telemedicine doctors!

You mustn't self-medicate, as it's hard to differentiate between urethritis and sexually transmitted diseases (STI) like genital herpes or Chlamydia/Gonorrhea without testing.

What Is Urethritis?

This ailment can affect any gender, but differently. Urethritis in men is quite prevalent and, with treatment, is curable.

It can be caused by a sexually transmitted infection, but not always. The defining factor is inflammation of the urethra. However, these numbers could be higher because not everyone experiences symptoms or has access to a diagnostician.

How Will I Know If I Have It?

Common symptoms for men include:

• Painful urination
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Itchiness in the penis
• Unusual penile discharge, possibly containing pus and or blood
• Pain in the pelvis

As you may gather, all of these symptoms are quite alarming to experience. It's important to stay calm and speak to a doctor online if that's convenient.

Since treatment might be time sensitive, you shouldn't book with a clinic that'll put you on a waitlist. Avoid putting medicated balms or ointments on the irritated area unless a general practitioner gives permission to proceed.

If the symptoms are at the point of impacting your daily life, then get in touch with an urgent care doctor.

Why Does It Happen?

Urethritis has many causes, which is possibly why it's so common. The way you were affected determines the type of infection you have.

Nonspecific Urethritis

Sometimes the route of infection is never found. This is common enough that it merits its own category, called nonspecific urethritis. However, that doesn't mean you can't get treatment. A virtual doctor would still be able to help.

Non-Gonococcal Urethritis

Infection-based urethritis is often caused by gonorrhea/chlamydia, so when it's not, it's called non-gonococcal. Bacteria are everywhere, and in their own places, they're harmless, but if they enter the urethra, they'll fester. This can happen following anal or oral sex due to naturally occurring throat or rectum bacteria. Here are some of the culprits:

• Trichomonas vaginalis
• Mycoplasma genitalium
• An adenovirus
• A urinary tract infection
• A vaginal yeast infection
• The herpes simplex virus

It's not always possible to identify whether or not your partner has any of the above, which is why it's important to ask them when they were last tested.

Gonococcal Urethritis

This is caused by an STI. The people most at risk for this are people who:

• Are sexually active
• Don't practice safe sex
• Have a new sexual partner
• Have multiple sexual partners

This is why it's imperative to practice sexual safety and to have yourself checked after having intercourse with someone new, but also once a year, at minimum. Since there is a possibility that you won't experience symptoms, it's better to find out from a test, as opposed to a complication.

Non-Infectious Causes

Hygiene is very important, but when it comes to genitals, any family doctor would agree that you need to limit chemical exposure. Stick to cleaning with products you know are safe to use, and avoid letting them get near the urethra. Here are some other causes of non-infectious urethritis:

• Physical damage to the urethra
• Spermicidal birth control products
• An object, like a catheter, is inserted into the urethra

Treatment

The most common treatment is a course of antibiotics to kill the perpetrating bacteria. It's also important to limit your exposure to other bacteria until you've taken your last dose. However, for gonococcal urethritis, your family doctor may recommend a custom treatment plan.

In cases where the infection has been left untreated for some time, there may be additional treatment and testing to identify and fix the damage. So don't wait to feel symptoms. If you haven't had your reproductive health checked in a while, save yourself a trip and speak to a virtual doctor.

TelMDCare can help you access a doctor wherever you feel comfortable. Along with STIs, our team is also skilled and experienced at treating dental infections and gout attacks. We know that illness is rarely something you can plan around, and while you're sick in bed or working through the pain, you don't need the added stress of logistics.

Our accessible care means you can seek treatment even for things that seem minor, like a sinus infection.

To join the community of people who've taken been able to reap the benefits of our affordable family practice online doctors, you can create an account and book.