A urethral stricture is scarring that narrows the urethra.

A urethral stricture most commonly results from a previous injury. Often no cause can be found. Prior infection is an infrequent cause. A less forceful urinary stream or a double stream usually occurs with mild strictures. Severe strictures may completely block the stream of urine. Pressure builds up behind the stricture and may cause passages from the urethra into the surrounding tissues (diverticula). By decreasing the frequency or completeness of urination, strictures often lead to urinary tract infections.

Urologists (doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary disorders) diagnose strictures by obtaining an x-ray after putting radiopaque dye into the urethra (retrograde urethrogram) or by looking directly into the urethra through a flexible viewing tube (cystoscope) after administering a lubricant containing a local anesthetic. To treat a stricture, urologists widen (dilate) the urethra by anesthetizing it and then inserting an instrument that forces the narrowing farther open. Or urologists can cut the stricture open (urethrotomy). Sometimes, scar tissue forms after strictures are treated, causing urethral strictures to recur. If strictures recur, the scar tissue may have to be removed surgically and the urethra may need to be rebuilt.

Last full review/revision October 2008 by Paul D. Lui, MD