What are the common causes and symptoms of urethritis?
The urethra is a canal in the penis through which urine from the bladder and semen are emptied. Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) in men begins with a burning sensation during urination and a thick or watery discharge that drips from the opening at the end of the penis. Infection without symptoms is common. The most common causes of urethritis are the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis. Both of these infections are usually acquired through sexual exposure to an infected partner. The urethritis can extend to the testicles (orchitis) and the tube connecting the testicles to the urethra, the epididymis (epididymitis). These complicated and potentially severe infections can cause tenderness and pain in the testicles. For example, they occasionally develop into an abscess (pocket of pus) requiring surgery and can even result in sterility. How is urethritis diagnosed? A person with symptoms of urethritis as described above should seek medical care. An evaluation fo
