How to Diagnose Urethritis

Urethritis can affect men and women. Although it can be caused by certain sexually transmitted diseases, it can also be caused from germs irritating the urethra. Urethritis usually causes a burning sensation when urinating, and a discharge may be present.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Give a complete medical history to your physician, including when the pain started, what it feels like and anything else unusual. Include any injuries, no matter how minor, you have suffered in that area. Your physician also needs to know your sexual habits and history.
2. Complete a physical examination. Your physician must check your abdomen for tenderness around your kidneys. He also needs to examine your genitalia. Women must undergo a pelvic exam, and men may need a digital rectal examination, especially if the doctor suspects prostate problems.
3. Swabbing the area and sending the sample to a lab can help the doctor determine if you have urethritis. If your doctor suspects a kidney infection or bladder infection as the cause, he should process a urine sample to identify the type of bacteria.
4. Tell your doctor if you have had high-risk, unprotected sex, or sex with multiple partners so that he can order sexually transmitted disease tests.
5. Explain to your doctor if you have allergies, or if this is a reoccurring problem. Spermicides and jelly, cream and foam contraceptives can also cause urethritis, especially if you are sensitive to them.