What is urethral surgery?
The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. In men, the urethra is approximately 20 cm long, from the bladder, through the length of the penis to the opening at the end. Along the way, it passes through the prostate gland and joins with the seminal ducts of the testicles, which means that in men it is used for both ejaculation and urination. In women, the urethra is shorter, runs from the bladder to an opening above the vagina and is only used for urination.
As with all parts of the body, the urethra can be affected by various diseases and injuries, some of which require surgery.
The urethra can be affected by various diseases and injuries.
Why is urethral surgery performed?
Urethral surgery may be performed to resolve urinary problems in the patient, to remove scar tissue that is causing pain or discomfort, or to reconstruct the urethra after a serious injury. There are several procedures that can be performed on the urethra depending on the condition or injury.
Urethral surgical procedures
Some of the most common surgical operations on the urethra are:
- Urethral stricture: narrowing of the urethra, usually due to scarring of the tissue lining the passageway. Strictures can be the result of inflammation, injury or trauma, infection, damage from previous surgery, or many other reasons. Often the cause is not clear. Urethral strictures are more common in men than in women and do not go away on their own. They cause significant pain and may affect the individual’s quality of life (such as having problems urinating or recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). In these cases, surgery may be recommended.
- Incontinence sling surgery: Urinary incontinence occurs when the urethral sphincter, which controls urination, loses control of when the urethra opens during certain movements or actions that put pressure on the bladder, such as sneezing. By surgically implanting a sling made of mesh or tissue that lifts and supports the urethra, urinary control can be restored.