Urology
Urethral Strictures
A narrowed urethra can make it painful to pee and cause other problems, too. Our expert urologists offer treatments to open the narrowed passage and help you feel better.
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Rothschild on June 12, 2026.
Urology Experts Who Are Here for You
UC Davis Health’s urology team offers you skilled and compassionate care. Our doctors use all types of nonsurgical and surgical procedures to open narrowed urethras. Our urology surgeons are experts in advanced urethral reconstructive procedures. You receive understanding and experienced care from reconstructive urology experts.
Men and women can both experience urethral strictures. Our experts can help diagnose and treat urethral strictures for both men and women.
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What Is a Urethral Stricture?
Your urethra is the tube that carries urine out of your body. When something causes your urethra to narrow, you have a urethral stricture. These strictures can make it more difficult and painful to urinate and ejaculate.
Certain conditions and injuries can cause urethral strictures. Strictures mostly affect men because their urethras are longer. Strictures can also occur in females. A stricture can occur in any part of your urethra, from near your bladder (the organ that holds urine) to the tip of your penis.
Types include:
- Anterior urethral stricture: A narrowing farther away from your bladder
- Posterior urethral stricture: A narrowing closer to your bladder
Symptoms of Urethral Stricture
A weak urine flow is the main sign of a urethral stricture. You may have other symptoms, depending on how narrow your urethra is.
Common Symptoms
Common Symptoms
Signs of a urethral stricture include:
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in urine or semen
- Dark urine
- Enlarged or infected prostate
- Leaking urine
- Pain when urinating
- Slow or weak urine stream
- Spraying of urine when you pee
- Swollen or enlarged penis
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Weak ejaculation
Emergency Symptoms
A severe stricture can make it impossible to pee. When this happens suddenly, it is a urologic emergency. Without treatment, you’re at risk for kidney damage and failure.
- Blood in urine
- Confusion or trouble concentrating
- Fever
- Intense, sudden pain in your back or side
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Painful urination
- Swollen hands, ankles or face
Urethral Stricture Causes
Swelling (inflammation) in your urethra can create a scar. The swelling and scar tissue makes the inside of your urethra narrower. Certain injuries, conditions and procedures increase your risk.
Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), chronic (ongoing) UTIs and other infections can cause inflammation and scarring.
Injuries
An injury to your penis or scrotum (the pouch that holds the testicles) during a fall, hit to the groin or other accident can cause narrowing.
Medical Procedures
Prostate cancer surgery, kidney stone treatments and using urinary catheters can inflame the urethra and cause scarring.
Diagnosis and Testing for Urethral Stricture
Your urologist will do a physical exam and review your symptoms and medical history. They may order tests to find out if you have a urethral stricture.
Medical Imaging Tests
Certain diagnostic and medical imaging tests, such as a urethral radiographic imaging and urethroscopy can show narrowing.
Urethroscopy
Your provider inserts a thin, flexible scope (urethroscope) into your urethra. The scope has a light and viewing lens that allows your provider to check for a stricture.
Retrograde Urethrogram
An X-ray machine takes pictures as a liquid contrast dye moves through your urethra toward your bladder. A narrowing of the dye pathway through the urethra can be a sign of a stricture.
Urethral Stricture Treatments
Urethral stricture treatments depend on how severe the condition is. Whenever possible, our skilled urologists use nonsurgical treatments. A complex stricture may require open or reconstructive surgery. Your provider will discuss your options, including risks and benefits.
Urethral Dilation
Your provider inserts a series of dilating rods (called sounds) into your urethra. Your provider gradually moves to rods that are larger in width, helping to open up the narrowed tube. Another dilation option involves inserting a thin, flexible tube (catheter) with a tiny, deflated balloon on the tip. Your provider inflates the balloon at the site of the stricture to widen it.
Another dilation option is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat urethral stricture. During the procedure, a special medication covered balloon (Optilume) is inserted into the narrowed area and inflated to widen the urethra while delivering medication to help reduce scar tissue formation. The goal is to improve urinary flow and decrease the likelihood that the stricture will return.
Urethrotomy
Your provider inserts a thin scope with a cutting tool (scalpel) or laser at the end through the urethra. They cut away or laser off the scar tissue.
Anastomotic Urethroplasty
This open surgery treats short urethral strictures. Your provider removes the narrowed section of the urethra through a small cut between your scrotum and rectum. They then reconnect the healthy ends of the urethra.
Urethral Reconstruction
For long strictures, your provider removes the scarred section of the urethra. They take tissue from somewhere else in your body to reconstruct the urethra. Our urologists are experts in urethral reconstruction using tissue grafts taken from inside your cheek.
Perineal Urethrostomy
If a stricture is too severe to repair, your provider may reroute the urethral opening to the perineal skin area between the scrotum and rectum. Urine and semen leave the body through this new opening, which requires sitting down to pee.
Prevention for Urethral Stricture
Certain actions may lower your chances of urethral strictures.
Protect the Groin Area
Wear an athletic cup while playing high-contact sports to lower your risk of groin injuries.
Use Protection During Sex
Wear condoms to lower your risk of STIs and get STI treatments, if needed.
Who does it affect?
0.6% men, 0.1% womendevelop urethral strictures
Source: Deutsches Arzteblatt International: Urethral Stricture: Etiology, Investigation and Treatments
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