Urethra infection (urethritis)
If you have a burning sensation when urinating and pain in your urethra, you may have a urethra infection. Your urine is transported from the bladder out through a tube called the urethra. The urethra is part of your urinary system. An infection in the urethra is called urethritis. This page will tell you more about the cause of urethritis and what you can do about it.
Cause
Urethritis is usually caused by chlamydia or another sexually transmitted infection (STI). When the cause is unclear we refer to it as a non-specific inflammation.
Symptoms
These are the most common symptoms of a urethra infection in men:
- Watery or pus-like discharge from the penis
- Pain when urinating
- Urinating more often than usual
You could also have a urethra infection without any symptoms.
To be sure of whether you have an infection a swab of the urethra is needed. We also test the urine for gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
Make an appointment
If you think you have urethritis, make an appointment for a check-up at GGD Amsterdam.
Cure
You need antibiotics to cure urethritis. You must complete the course of treatment. Do not masturbate or have sexual contact until a week after finishing the course of antibiotics. If you still have symptoms a week after finishing the antibiotics, we recommend you come back for a check-up.
You must get treatment. Without treatment the infection can spread to the epididymis. You then run the risk of reduced fertility and an infected prostate.
What I can do
If testing reveals that you have chlamydia or another STI, you must let your sexual partner(s) know so that they can also get tested and treated.