The urethra (urethra) is an elastic tube responsible for removing urine from the bladder to the outside. In women, it is much shorter and wider than in men (3–4 cm long and 1,5 cm wide versus 16–22 cm and 8 mm, respectively). The internal opening of the urethra departs from the bladder, and the canal, passing through the urogenital diaphragm, ends in the vestibule of the vagina with the external opening of the urethra. The hole is rounded. It is surrounded by hard roll-like edges. The urethra fuses with the anterior wall of the vagina and runs parallel to it. At the external entrance, the opening of the urethra is narrowed, and at the internal entrance it is expanded and has a funnel shape.
Around the canal there is a connective tissue, the density of which is different (in the lower sections it is the most dense). The wall of the urethra itself consists of a muscular and mucous membrane. The muscular membrane is made up of the outer, circular layers of smooth muscles and elastic fibers. The mucous membrane is covered with epithelium, which has several layers.
The condition of the urethra can be assessed by a gynecologist during an examination.
Diseases of the urethra in women
The most common disease of the urethra in women is urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). It manifests itself as burning, itching, cutting and pain in the urethra during urination or without connection with it.
The disease can affect any woman if she is exposed to a number of dangerous factors. Among them, hypothermia, sexual hyperactivity leading to microtrauma of the urethra, malnutrition (excessive consumption of spicy, sour, fried foods and alcohol), violations of the vaginal microflora and gynecological diseases, kidney disease (urolithiasis), weak immunity, mechanical damage during medical procedures (catheterization, smear), pathogenic effects of toxic agents and radiation factors.
Female urethritis develops, starting with temporary exacerbations of the disease. Manifestations can be of different strength – from mild discomfort to severe cutting pains. Usually a lot of time passes between exacerbations, and women are in no hurry to see a doctor. But this is a huge mistake, because after a while the pain and burning will come more often, and the action of antibiotics will become less effective. The most severe stage of female urethritis is constant pain in the urethra.
What causes this unpleasant and dangerous disease? Most often, these are any gynecological diseases associated with a violation of the microflora of the vagina. This violation (dysbiosis) can be caused by sexual infections, among which the most common are chlamydia, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis, and so on. But, in addition to them, the disease can also develop under the influence of streptococci, staphylococci and other bacteria.
Urethritis can lead to various complications: when inflammation passes to the bladder, cystitis develops, and if the infection goes further, it can also affect the kidneys, provoking pyelonephritis. Chronic urethritis often causes deformation of the urethra, which prevents the normal excretion of urine.
[Video] Dermatovenereologist Ovsepyan Zh.A. – what is urethritis, symptoms and treatment: