Urethral Disorders—Ureteral Disorders

Your kidneys make urine by filtering wastes and extra water from your blood. The urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder in two thin tubes called ureters.

The ureters are about 8 to 10 inches long. Muscles in the ureter walls tighten and relax to force urine down and away from the kidneys. Small amounts of urine flow from the ureters into the bladder about every 10 to 15 seconds.

Sometimes the ureters can become blocked or injured. This can block the flow of urine to the bladder. If urine stands still or backs up the ureter, you may get a urinary tract infections.

Doctors diagnose problems with the ureters using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays, and examination of the ureter with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Injury – kidney and ureter (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Retroperitoneal fibrosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Ureteral reimplantation surgery – children (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Ureteral retrograde brush biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Ureterocele (Medical Encyclopedia)

The urethra is the tube that allows urine to pass out of the body. In men, it’s a long tube that runs through the penis. It also carries semen in men. In women, it’s short and is just above the vagina. Urethral problems may happen due to aging, illness, or injury. They include

• Urethral cancer – a rare cancer that happens more often in men
• Urethral stricture – a narrowing of the opening of the urethra
• Urethritis – inflammation of the urethra, sometimes caused by infection

Urethral problems may cause pain or difficulty passing urine. You may also have bleeding or discharge from the urethra.

Doctors diagnose urethral problems using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays and an examination of the urethra with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.

• Chlamydial infections – male (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Epispadias (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Meatal stenosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Self catheterization – female (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Self catheterization – male (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Traumatic injury of the bladder and urethra (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethral discharge culture (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethral stricture (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urinary Retention – NIH (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)