A urethral stricture is scar tissue that blocks the flow of urine out of the bladder. This occurs in the urethra. It is more common in men than women. It often presents with various voiding symptoms including straining or inability to urinate, pain, infections, and bleeding. The diagnosis can be made by visually looking at the stricture through the urethra with a telescope called a cystoscopy. It can also be made with a x-ray study called a retrograde urethrogram. This involves injecting contrast solution into the penis while taking a x-ray. Strictures can be managed with dilation, endoscopic incision, or surgical repair. While surgical repair is more invasive, it also has a significantly higher cure rate.
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