Urethral syndrome refers to a primarily female syndrome in which women suffer from irritative bladder symptoms(urinary frequency, urgency, burning, and more) in the absence of any objective urologic findings. That is to say, when they under medical evaluation their physicians discover no specific findings to account for their symptoms. Because the
symptoms of urethral syndrome are similar to symptoms common for many irritative bladder problems, the diagnosis of urethral syndrome is often delayed.
While the
symptoms of frequency/urgency/pain are present in almost all true UTIs, 30-50% of patients with these symptoms do not have significant bacteria in their urine. However, many of those without bacteria may have white blood cells (sign of infection or inflammation) in their urine. This likely reflects the presence of other infections which may not be bacterial. The presence of white blood cells, no bacteria, and UTI symptoms is the one common description of
urethral syndrome.
The signs and symptoms are urinary frequency, urgency and burning, low buck pain, suprapubic pain, hesitant or slowed urinary stream.
Many
urethral syndrome patients were initially told that they have recurrent urinary infections. Upon closer history, however, it is discovered that their supposed urinary infections have been poorly documented. Other disease processes which must be excluded are:
chlamydia infections, Ureaplasma infections, neurological disorders, gynecological disorders, bladder tumors, urethral narrowing, interstitial
cystitis (see below) and more.
Keywords: Urethral Syndrome
