Urethritis treatment at home: Urethritis + 5 Natural Ways to Relieve Urethritis Symptoms

27.01.202110.07.2023 by alexxlab

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Urethritis + 5 Natural Ways to Relieve Urethritis Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of urethritis are different for men and women. The most common symptom for both is pain while peeing and feeling an increased urge to pee. However, some people have no symptoms at all. It is most common in women. This is called asymptomatic urethritis. Still others have symptoms that are actually caused by a different condition, such as a urinary tract infection, urethral diverticulum, urethral prolapse or urethral caruncle.

Sexual activity that puts you at increased risk of a sexually transmitted infection. These include:
Having numerous sexual partners
Having sex without a condom
A history of sexually transmitted disease

Diagnosis of urethritis involves a physical exam to check for pain, swelling, discharge or tenderness. The health care provider may also order blood or urine tests to check for bacteria, viruses and other problems. You may be tested for HIV and syphilis. In women, a pregnancy test or pelvic ultrasound may also be done. Once the cause of inflammation is known, conventional treatment will be determined. Treatment varies by the cause of the condition and typically includes the following: (2, 4, 5, 6)

For bacterial urethritis: You can expect a prescription for antibiotics and possibly a pain reliever. This helps ease pain, fight the infection and reduce your risk of passing the infection along to others.
These antibiotics include azithromycin, doxycycline, levofloxacin, ofloxacin and erythromycin. Most of these are seven-day courses of treatment, but azithromycin is a single dose.
If you have infectious urethritis, your partner should go in for testing and treatment as well.
While you are being treated, and for at least one week after, you should avoid sex or use condoms to avoid passing the infection to others.
Always take the full course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better after a few days.
If your infection doesn’t clear up after taking antibiotics, you may be prescribed different antibiotics. Alternatively, the health care provider may search for other causes, such as a virus, trauma or topical problem.
For temporary or mild urethritis caused by spermicide, soap, etc.: No treatment may be needed as symptoms may go away on their own, particularly once you stop using the product. However, if the pain or symptoms continue more than a day or two, or if they are joined by symptoms such as a fever or pain in the belly or back, nausea, or vomiting, seek care immediately.
You may be advised to stop using spermicides or other topical contraceptives.
It may be suggested that you avoid or limit vigorous sexual activity.
You may be told to increase the amount of water you drink.
If you use scented body products or soaps, you may be advised to switch to gentle, unscented products.
For urethritis caused by injury or trauma: Depending on the cause of injury, you may require antibiotics to prevent or treat infection. If you have an item lodged in your penis, you may need both medication and professional medical assistance in removing it. In some cases, a health care professional may decide you do not need treatment for infection and may be able to wait for the inflammation to go away on its own.

Untreated urethritis can lead to infections in other organs, with serious complications. Once it spreads, infection can be much harder to treat and symptoms may be much more painful or severe. Urethritis can also cause scarring in the urethra (called urethral stricture) or pelvis (causing pelvic inflammatory disease), which can lead to fertility problems. If the infection spreads to the blood and causes sepsis, it can be deadly. If your case is caused by a sexually transmitted infection, you are also at greater risk for urethral cancer.

A publication by American Family Physician recommends that people with urethritis should drink plenty of water during and after treatment. (8) Drinking a generous amount of water each day helps flush bacteria out of the urethra, reduces the concentration of bacteria in the bladder and urine, and can reduce your chances of future infections. This is particularly important for women, who have a shorter urethra than men. (9)

The standard recommendation of about eight glasses of water per day is usually enough. Another option for calculating your minimum need is drinking a quart for every 50 pounds of body weight. You may need to drink more in hot weather or if you exercise. Spread your drinking out during the day, with the goal of urinating about once every 90 minutes. This means you’re regularly emptying your bladder and flushing out the urethra. (10)

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests that even though dietary changes aren’t confirmed as impacting urethritis, they may help some people. There is also evidence that diet impacts people with similar conditions affecting the urinary tract, such as interstitial cystitis. You can try adjusting what you eat and drink to see if it eases the pain in your urethra. Options include: (7, 12)

Natural remedies have long been used to treat irritation and infection in the urinary tract. Since most cases of urethritis are caused by sexually transmitted infections, you should see a health care provider for evaluation and medication if needed. If you are interested in trying herbal remedies or supplements to see if they help your symptoms, discuss them with your health care provider first. Some herbs and supplements can interact with medications or cause health problems in some people.

Agathosma betulina leaves (Buchu) or Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaves (Bearberry). Both of these are reportedly effective for fighting infection in the urinary system. “The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Healing Properties of Herbs” recommends combining Buchu with couchgrass and yarrow for infusions or capsules. It also recommends adding corn silk to the concoction to ease burning. (13)
Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Echineceae purpura (echinacea) and Equisetum arvense (horsetail) may also be useful. Some natural medicine research and traditional medical practice has found these and most of the herbs listed above to be at least somewhat effective at reducing inflammation, fighting infection, boosting the immune system or helping the body flush bacteria from the urinary system. (15)

If your case of urethritis is caused by a sexually transmitted infection, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, the diagnosis will be tracked by public health departments and you will be asked to provide the names or contact information for all of your recent sexual partners. Providing this information honestly and accurately is critical to protecting the health of these people.

Urethritis is an infection and inflammation of the lining of the urethra, the narrow tube that carries urine out of the body. In men, the urethra also carries semen. Urethritis is usually caused when bacteria from the anus travel to the urethra. The infection may affect the bladder, prostate, and reproductive organs. It may also be caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as herpes or chlamydia.

Herbs are a way to strengthen and tone the body’s systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your doctor before starting treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, or teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. (5 g) herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaves or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.

Cranberry
(
Vaccinium macrocarpon
). Supplements to help prevent urethritis and urinary tract infections. You may also drink 8 to 16 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice daily. Cranberry supplements or juice may increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you take blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) or clopidogrel (Plavix). People with kidney stones and pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take cranberry supplements. People who are allergic to aspirin should not take large amounts of cranberry supplements. Cranberry can interact with a number of medications. Ask your doctor before taking cranberry supplements.