What are the symptoms of urethral stones?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 14, 2024
00:00
00:00

The symptoms of urethral stones are primarily related to the size and location of the stone. Smaller urethral stones generally do not cause discomfort and can be expelled from the body through urination. However, some urethral stones may cause pain within the urethra or even lead to the presence of blood in the urine. If the stone is large and lodges in the posterior urethra, it can cause complete obstruction of the urethra, leading to significant difficulty in urination, or even result in urinary retention. Therefore, the clinical manifestations of urethral stones vary depending on the size and location of the stone. If the stone is large and causes acute urinary infection or obstruction, leading to urinary retention, prompt surgical treatment is necessary.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
42sec home-news-image

Urinary stone symptoms in men

The main symptoms of a male suffering from urethral stones are directly related to the size of the stones. If the stones are small, they often pass through urination, flushing out of the urethra without causing any discomfort. However, if the stones are large, they can get stuck in the urethra, causing a blockage during urination and significant pain. Some patients may experience hematuria due to the stones damaging the mucous membrane of the urethra. If the stones are large enough to cause impaction, especially complete obstruction of the urethra, this can lead to urinary retention and significant difficulty in urinating, necessitating prompt visit to the hospital's urology department for lithotripsy treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
47sec home-news-image

Is urethral calculus easy to treat?

Urethral stones are relatively easy to treat. For smaller stones, drinking more water and urinating frequently can help flush the stones out of the body with the flow of urine. If the stones are larger and cause blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, or even urinary retention, they can also be treated with a cystoscope or ureteroscope. Under direct vision, the stones can be broken up with a holmium laser and removed, generally without the need for open surgery. Therefore, if you suffer from urethral stones, there is no need to worry excessively. It is sufficient to promptly visit the hospital's urology department for diagnostic procedures such as ultrasounds or CT scans to determine the exact size and location of the stones, and then choose the appropriate treatment method.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Chun
Urology
1min 53sec home-news-image

How to check for urethral stones

Urethral stone examinations are primarily divided into the following areas: Firstly, the physical examination provided by the clinical doctor which checks for urethral stones can be categorized into anterior and posterior urethral stones. For anterior urethral stones, one can feel a hard nodule inside the urethra with their hand. Combined with specific symptoms, such as sudden stabbing pain during urination or a sudden inability to urinate, and if there is a history of urinary system stones, then urethral stones might be considered. As for posterior urethral stones, they cannot be felt externally; if they are lodged at the prostate, a doctor might insert a finger into the rectum to touch the area around the prostate. If a hard nodule is felt upon pressing, then a posterior urethral stone might be considered. Secondly, a more accurate clinical exam is the plain film radiography of the urinary system, commonly known as X-rays. Generally, most stones contain calcium, and in such cases, the X-ray can reveal a hard nodule in either the posterior or anterior urethra, which can be diagnosed as urethral stones. Thirdly, the urinary system's CT scans can sometimes detect radiolucent stones, such as uric acid stones. It can also identify conditions like kidney hydronephrosis in the bladder and stones in other parts of the urinary system. If all examinations, including auxiliary checks, suggest the presence of urethral stones, treatment depends on the situation. If the anterior urethral stone is not large, stone retrieval may be performed. Posterior urethral stones are generally treated like bladder stones; after pushing them into the bladder using a cystoscope, the stones are broken down either by lithotripsy or laser.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Tian
General Surgery
46sec home-news-image

What drink is good for urethral stones?

It is generally suitable to take some stone expulsion granules.For urethral calculi, it is first necessary to determine the location of the stones, whether they are kidney stones, ureteral stones, or bladder stones, as well as the size of the stones, whether there are any obstructions and other symptoms. If the above symptoms occur, in addition to initial conservative treatment, it is also necessary to clarify these issues before proceeding with the next steps based on the results.Normally, attention should be paid to rest, avoid eating spicy and irritating foods, avoid sitting for long periods, and moderate exercise, such as going up and down stairs, can all help in the expulsion of stones, followed by regular follow-up checks.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
47sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of urethral stones?

The symptoms of urethral stones are primarily related to the size and location of the stone. Smaller urethral stones generally do not cause discomfort and can be expelled from the body through urination. However, some urethral stones may cause pain within the urethra or even lead to the presence of blood in the urine. If the stone is large and lodges in the posterior urethra, it can cause complete obstruction of the urethra, leading to significant difficulty in urination, or even result in urinary retention. Therefore, the clinical manifestations of urethral stones vary depending on the size and location of the stone. If the stone is large and causes acute urinary infection or obstruction, leading to urinary retention, prompt surgical treatment is necessary.