آخر تحديث: 18 مايو 2026

Urethral stricture is a common presentation at my urology office, defined as a narrowing of a segment of the urethra. US data reports a 0.9% incidence in men, with dramatically increasing prevalence after age 65.

Urethral catheterization stricture cause
Long-term urethral catheterization is one of the known causes of urethral stricture.

The 4 major causes of urethral stricture

  1. مجهول السبب (33% incidence) — more common in younger males; likely represents unrecognized childhood trauma or congenital anomaly
  2. علاجي المنشأ (33% incidence) — history of transurethral endoscopic surgery or long-term indwelling urethral catheter
  3. التهابات (15% incidence) — history of urethral infection, particularly sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
  4. صدمة (19% incidence) — blunt straddle injury, pelvic fracture, or penile fracture
Pelvic fracture urethral stricture
Traumatic pelvic fracture is a recognized cause of posterior urethral stricture.

Regardless of the cause, urethral damage triggers scar formation that gradually narrows the urethral canal over weeks, months, or years. Patients typically present with weak urinary stream or discomfort during urination. Evaluation involves flexible cystoscopy as first-line visualization, followed by retrograde urethrography (contrast study) if needed to define the stricture length and location.

Urethral stricture weak urine stream
Weak urinary stream is the major presenting symptom of urethral stricture.
Laser urethrotomy stricture
Advanced laser technology can be used in urethral stricture treatment.

Treatment options for urethral stricture

  1. تمدد مجرى البول — serial dilation with metallic dilator; comparable results to surgery but 60% recurrence rate at 48 months follow-up
  2. رؤية مباشرة لشق الإحليل بالسكين البارد — endoscopic incision of the stricture under direct vision; 50% recurrence rate at 48 months
  3. بضع الإحليل بالليزر بالرؤية المباشرة — same approach as cold knife but using laser technology; comparable outcomes
  4. رأب الإحليل — gold standard for strictures longer than 2 cm; highest long-term success rate of all treatment options
Urethroplasty open surgery urethral stricture
For long urethral strictures, open urethroplasty provides the best long-term outcomes.

Since urethral stricture involves natural scar formation, recurrence is always possible regardless of treatment. Regular follow-up and early detection of recurrence are essential components of long-term management. Treatment choice depends on stricture length, location, etiology, and patient factors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Urethral Stricture

What causes urethral stricture?

Urethral stricture develops from scarring of the urethral wall following tissue damage. The four major causes are: idiopathic (33%) — often related to unrecognized childhood trauma or congenital anomaly; iatrogenic (33%) — from transurethral surgery or long-term catheterization; inflammatory (15%) — from urethral infection or sexually transmitted diseases; and traumatic (19%) — from pelvic fracture, straddle injury, or penile fracture. Regardless of cause, the resulting scar tissue gradually narrows the urethral lumen over weeks to months.

What is the best treatment for urethral stricture?

Treatment selection depends on stricture length and location. For short strictures, options include urethral dilation (60% recurrence at 4 years) or direct vision urethrotomy (cold knife or laser, 50% recurrence at 4 years). For strictures longer than 2 cm, urethroplasty (open surgical reconstruction) is the gold standard, offering the highest long-term success rate. Since all treatments carry a risk of recurrence due to the body’s natural scarring process, regular urological follow-up is essential after any treatment.

What symptoms suggest urethral stricture?

The most common symptom is a progressively weakening urinary stream. Other symptoms may include urinary hesitancy, incomplete bladder emptying (post-void dribbling), straining to urinate, discomfort during urination, recurrent urinary tract infections, and in severe cases, acute urinary retention. If you have a history of pelvic trauma, STDs, prior catheterization, or endoscopic urological surgery and notice changes in your urinary stream, prompt urological evaluation is important.

If you are experiencing urinary symptoms that may be caused by urethral stricture, Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone offers specialist consultations at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. احجز استشارة.

إخلاء المسؤولية: هذا المحتوى مكتوب ومراجع من قبل الدكتورة سواروي ويراباسون، أخصائية أمراض المسالك البولية المعتمدة في مستشفى بانكوك الرئيسي. الغرض منه تعليمي فقط ولا يشكل نصيحة طبية. استشر دائمًا أخصائي رعاية صحية مؤهل قبل البدء في أي علاج طبي.

مكتوب طبياً ومراجع بواسطة: الدكتورة سوارافي ويراسوبون (الدكتورة بوم) - أخصائية المسالك البولية المعتمدة، مستشفى بانكوك الرئيسي. زمالة دولية: كلية بايلور للطب (الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية) · جامعة جوندندو (اليابان) · مستشفى تشانغ غونغ التذكاري (تايوان).

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اكتشاف المزيد من Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone — Urologist Bangkok

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