Urethra

What is a urethra?

The urethra is the tube that lets urine (pee) leave your bladder and your body. Everyone has a urethra. Only pee comes out of a female urethra. Semen comes out of the male urethra during sex.

The urethra is part of your urinary system. This system is made up of your kidneys, bladder, ureters and urethra. If you’re male, it also includes your prostate.

Your kidneys clean your blood and produce urine, a waste product. From your two kidneys, two ureters move the urine to the bladder. It stays in your bladder until you pee.

What does the urethra do?

Your urethra provides a way for urine to come out of your body. Pee exits your body through a hole at the end of your urethra. The hole is called the urethral meatus. (The term “meatus” means an opening from the inside to the outside.)

Where is the urethra located?

Your urethra is located in your body’s pelvic region. In males, the urethra passes through your prostate and into your penis. In females, the urethra is much shorter. It starts at your bladder and opens in front of your vagina.

If you’re female, your urethra is about 1.5 inches long. This is about 3 to 4 centimeters. If you’re male, your urethra is about 7 to 8 inches long. This is about 20 centimeters.

What are the parts of the urethra?

There are three parts to the male urethra:

• Prostatic urethra: The part that carries semen through your prostate gland
• Membranous urethra: The short part that moves fluids through your pelvic floor
• Penile urethra (also called the spongy urethra or the cavernous urethra): The longest section of your urethra, which extends the whole length of your penis and ends at the urethral meatus (opening)

What does it look like?

The walls of the tube are thin. They’re made up of:

• Epithelial tissue
• Smooth muscle cells
• Connective tissue

The urethra has two different types of sphincters. These are muscles that act as valves that open or close. Your internal sphincter is at the point where your urethra leaves your bladder. Your external sphincter is in the pelvic floor. These muscles work with your bladder to get pee out of your body.

What are the common conditions and disorders?

Conditions that can affect your urethra include:

• Urinary tract infections: These are very common. You can get an infection anywhere along your urinary tract. This includes your urethra. You may also get a UTI if you have a urinary catheter.
• Urethritis, including nongonococcal urethritis (NGU): A gonorrhea infection usually causes this. NGU is the term for urethritis from a different cause, like chlamydia.
• Urethral strictures: This happens when scarring makes the urethra narrower. The narrowness may lead to inflammation, infections, pain with peeing and difficulty emptying your bladder.
• Genitourinary vaginal fistulas: These happen when holes open up between your urinary system and your vagina or uterus.
• Injuries or damage to the urethra: These include things like gunshot wounds, blunt trauma injuries and injuries that happen when you try to put something up your urethra. These may cause bruises or the leaking of urine into nearby tissues.
• Urethral cancer: This cancer is very rare.

Issues with the urethra are more common in males.

A damaged urethra can lead to problems like:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Strictures
• Loss of bladder control
• Erection problems

Signs and symptoms if something isn’t working right

Here are some common signs or symptoms you might have with a medical issue involving your urethra:

• Pain or difficulty while peeing or being unable to pee
• Blood in your pee
• Changes in how often you pee
• Discharge from your urethra
• Bruising of the skin near your urethra
• Swelling

If your healthcare provider suspects you have a disorder of the urethra, they may order these types of tests:

• Urine tests: These tests examine your urine in a lab.
• Cystoscopy: This test lets your provider look into your urethra and bladder. They use a cystoscope (a small scope with a camera).
• X-rays and/or ultrasound: These imaging tests allow your provider to see bones and soft tissue. Ultrasound can help your provider see your kidneys and bladder.
• Retrograde urethrogram: This test combines an X-ray with a contrast agent.
• Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG): This test also uses a contrast agent to show what happens when your bladder fills up and then empties.

Simple lifestyle tips to keep your urethra healthy

One of the most important things you can do is drink enough fluids. Water is best. If your pee is pale yellow, you’re drinking enough.

Other tips include:

• Don’t use tobacco products.
• Reduce the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink.
• Find and maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.
• Get regular physical exercise.
• Avoid getting constipated.
• Avoid holding your urine for too long before you pee.
• Empty your bladder all the way.
• Pee after you have sex.
• Wipe from front to back when you use the bathroom.
• Wear cotton underwear.
• Don’t wear tight pants.
• Use a jockstrap if you play sports.

Review your medicines, foods and choice of birth control with your healthcare provider if you have problems with your urinary tract. Some medications and foods can affect your urinary system.