Urethral Stricture in women

[GMYog]

Hi everyone.

Are there any women here who have been diagnosed with urethral stricture? I understand it's quite rare in women but I'm wondering if I may have it.

I'll try to keep it short but basically I've had a weird feeling in my urethra ever since I had a catheter giving birth to my son 25 years ago. I mentioned it to my doctor at post natal check, saying it felt like there was something stuck up there, she just smiled and said there' s no way anything could be stuck. So I've spent the last 25 years just assuming something was perhaps damaged during the birth and that all women felt it.

It never really bothered me until about 18 months ago when this 'feeling' started to become painful. I'd wake in the night with a full bladder and start to sit up to go to the loo and I'd get a pain in the urethra, also if I just rolled over in bed I'd get it....but only if my bladder needed emptying. Just over 12 months ago I was treated for a UTI which took 3 weeks to clear up completely.

My doctor referred me to the uro gynaecologist who wasn't sure what was going on but put me on Estriol cream and told me to do pelvic floor exercises. This was last December. I also had scans on my bladder/kidneys/ovaries etc....all showed no abnormality.

The Estriol cream made no difference and I was told by the pelvic phsio that my pelvic floor muscles were excellent. Then in June just gone I had another UTI. The symptoms never completely went and I've been back three times since to have my urine checked....always negative. The symptoms have gradually got worse but no longer feels like a UTI. The pain in my urethra now when my bladder feels full is unbearable. It's no longer just at night it's 24/7. The only relief I get is after I empty my bladder and then it gradually builds up to unbearable again until I urinate again. The flow is very slow, stops and starts, slow to start.....anything between 5 to 20 seconds before I can actually start to urinate. Stings like mad when I start to pee but then goes as soon as the flow starts. No stinging at the end at all. I dread going to bed now. Getting out of bed to pee is almost impossible when my bladder feels full (which I don't think it ever is). I cry out in pain, it's like my urethra is splitting in two. Then I waddle to the bathroom like a fat penguin!

Do these sound like urethral stricture symptoms? I'm seeing the uro gynaecologist again on Monday and I'm guessing she's going to say I need a cystoscopy. Hopefully, I won't have to wait too long as this is making my life a misery now. Just wondering if any women have had a stricture and if these symptoms are typical?

Thank you for reading.

[Shoeysmum]

I don't know what I've got but I've had UTIs from January to July and was eventually referred to a urologist who sent me for a cystocopy. The consultant who tried to perform the cystoscopy couldn't insert the scope into my urethra because it was tight and so I have to have a general anaesthetic to have the urethra stretched in order to perform the cystocopy.

My urethra feels very sore and I have very similar symptoms to yourself although I don't get pain with it.

I hope they discover what's happening with you and get it sorted asap.

[GMYog in reply to Shoeysmum]

Thank you, you too

[GMYog in reply to Shoeysmum]

Just out of interest, how uncomfortable was it when they tried to insert the scope? Just the thought if it makes me feel very queasy. 😖

[Shoeysmum in reply to GMYog]

It wasn't uncomfortable at all as they put some anaesthetic gel there. The worst thing was that they lubricate the area so it's easier to insert the scope. Because the consultant was having difficulty inserting the scope he ended up using the whole vial of the lubricant and when I stood up it I could feel it all trickling out lol.

[GMYog in reply to Shoeysmum]

Ew gross lol

[Shoeysmum in reply to GMYog]

Hahaha...I know

[GMYog in reply to Shoeysmum]

Just back from my uro gynaecologist appointment. Gotta have a cystoscopy and urodynamics. Is that a catheter into the bladder to check pressure? Sounds just as bad as the bloomin camera. Wonder if I'm allowed alcohol before the procedures?

[Shoeysmum in reply to GMYog]

Cystoscopy is the camera in the bladder but I have no idea what urodynamics is.

[GreenBoot]

Hi GMYog,Yes, that sounds like urethral stricture to me. I have it too, although I am 80 years of age and only contracted it in the last year or so. They don't really know what causes U/S; the suspicion is that it is caused by scar tissue forming in the urethra and then contracting as it heals. This causes the urethra to narrow and make urination difficult. The result is that frequently the bladder does not empty when you urinate and the remaining urine swashes about in the bladder eventually leading to inflammation that can't be cleared by anti-biotics. But why the scar tissue forms in the first place is anybody's guess, although I imagine child-birth would be a plausible culprit. The best thing I can suggest is that you try to urinate twice each time to make sure you clear your bladder as far as possible. Don't worry about the cystoscopy; it is uncomfortable but that's all. It doesn't hurt. Your urethra can be dilated surgically but in my experience the benefit of this is short lived. In my case it only benefits me for a few weeks. You may have to resort to home dilation with a home dilator. That's what I am expecting for myself.

Best wishes,

GreenBoot

[GMYog in reply to GreenBoot]

Thank you for your reply GreenBoot, it's been about two years since my original post, things improved slightly over time but I still have a full bladder feeling when it's not full and urine flow is sometimes stop/start or just slow. Still have urethra pain although not as severe. I suppose I'm just used to it as the norm now. I had the cystoscopy which showed nothing abnormal and the urodynamics just showed overactive bladder. I'm not happy that I never got a real diagnosis on the urethra pain but not much I can do. I'm sure it was something from giving birth but I suppose I'll never know. I've been on amitriptyline for two years for the bladder night pain and they definitely help. I'll keep plodding on 🙂 good luck to you x