Introduction
There are three million reported cases of urethritis in the US every year. If you aren’t sure what it is, urethritis is simply the inflammation or irritation of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that goes from the bladder to carry urine outside of the body. It is very common in both men and women, and can be commonly confused for a urinary tract infection because of the similarities in some of the symptoms.
Keep in mind that urethritis is just the inflammation of the urethra, whereas a UTI is a distinct infection of the urinary tract. Both of these conditions require different methods of treatment.
Symptoms
Common symptoms for urethritis can include, but are not exclusive to, a burning sensation when you urinate. This can be exhibited by both men and women. Though, you can often have urethritis and not experience a burning sensation when you go to the bathroom. This is a condition that can affect men and women alike.
The symptoms for men can include:
- A burning sensation while urinating
- Itching near the opening of the penis
- Finding blood in your semen or your urine
- A strange discharge from the penis
Symptoms for women include:
- Having the urge to urinate more frequently
- Discomfort when urinating
- Irritation or burning at the opening of your urethra
- Discolored discharge when urinating (less common)
What can be deceptive about having urethritis, is that you may not always show symptoms if you have it. Even if you do have symptoms and believe that you may have urethritis, you should always go to your doctor immediately and be tested to make sure that you don’t have an sexually transmitted disease or sexually transmitted infection.
Complications of Urethritis
Infections of the urethra that are not treated or treated inappropriately can cause a narrowing (stenosis) of the urethra. Stenosis increases the risk of bladder or kidney infections. In a few cases, untreated gonorrhea can lead to an accumulation of pus (abscess) around the urethra.
Diagnosis of Urethritis
Typically, doctors establish the diagnosis of urethritis based on symptoms and examination. If there is a discharge, a sample is collected by inserting a soft-tipped swab into the end of the urethra. The urethral swab is then sent to the laboratory for analysis in order to identify the infectious organism. Definitely visit your doctor to confirm that what you have is actually urethritis.
Conventional Treatment of Urethritis
The identification of the microorganism that causes the urethritis can take days. Therefore, doctors usually start treatment with antibiotics that cure the most common causes. If the cause is suspected to be a sexually transmitted disease, the sexual partners of the affected person should be evaluated to determine if they need treatment. Men who are diagnosed with urethritis should be screened for HIV and Syphilis.
Natural Remedies for Urethritis
Now that you have a good idea of what some of the symptoms of urethritis are, what are some of the best treatment options? Let’s take a look at some of the most effective natural remedies for urethritis.
1) Drink a Lot of Fluids
When in doubt, one of the best ways that you can flush out your system is to drink more fluids. Making sure you drink lots of water is a great way to purge your system of any toxins, bacteria, or infections that you may have floating around. Drinking water will help to dilute your urine so that urinating won’t feel as painful.
2) Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatories
Another great way that you can take care of the painful symptoms of urethritis is to take a basic, over the counter, NSAID. This is an excellent, convenient, and super effective way to manage the pain and inflammation quicky. It is also a really easy and low maintenance way to manage your urethritis. Just make sure that you follow the ingredients on the label and take them accordingly.
3) Herbal Tea
Hollyhock tea or any other herbal tea is another great natural remedy for getting rid of inflammation and infection. Any herbal tea that is loaded with antibacterial or antimicrobial properties is a great way to combat inflammation and bacteria. As we mentioned before, it’s never a bad thing to make sure that you are drinking a lot of fluids and that you are well hydrates too. Make sure that you are drinking two glasses or more of herbal tea per day to see the best results in recovery.
4) Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy treatments are another great way to treat painful symptoms of urethritis. There are several different types of aromatherapy elements that you can use to massage onto the body to relieve pain and treat your symptoms. Lemon, fennel, geranium, and juniper are all effective oils that you can massage onto the back are on the stomach to help relieve pain, and to also help you relax and reduce your stress.
5) Multivitamin
Having a good multivitamin as a part of your daily regimen is never a bad idea when you are trying to stay healthy. Having a reliable multivitamin is also a great way to combat the pain and inflammation associated with urethritis.
Other effective vitamins that you can use for improving the symptoms of urethritis include Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and magnesium.
Conclusion
There are so many great natural ways that you can treat urethritis. Aromatherapy, herbal teas, drinking lots of fluids, and making sure you get a good mix of supportive vitamins and minerals into your diet are all great, homeopathic ways that you can manage the painful symptoms of urethritis. You can also take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory to help manage the pain while you are recovering.
If you think that you may have urethritis, you should still go see your primary care doctor immediately. Urethritis has symptoms that are related to several different kinds of STD’s and STI’s, so you want to make sure that you get tested immediately. Avoid sexual activity until you have spoken with your physician. In a case of confirmed urethritis, it is important to treat the sexual partners of those affected as well.