Urethritis in Women
Women may experience the following symptoms:
- An unusual vaginal discharge
- Pain in the pelvis and abdomen
- Pain during intercourse
- Urine frequently or urgently
- Chills and fever
- Pain in the stomach
- Irritation
Women who suffer from urethritis may experience the following symptoms:
- Urge to urinate more frequently
- Having difficulty urinating
- Irritation or burning at the urethral opening
- Along with urinary symptoms, vaginal discharge may also be present
Urinary symptoms may also be lacking in people who have urethritis. This is particularly true for women. If the urethritis results from chlamydia or, less commonly, trichomoniasis infection, symptoms may not be evident in men.
You should undergo testing if you suspect you may have had a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Gonococcal urethritis (GU) develops more abruptly, often within 3-4 days of onset and often within 7 days, causing intense dysuria and opaque yellow or white discharge.
Gonococcal urethritis is caused by the gram-negative intracellular diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhoeae. A non-GU (NGU) is characterized by gradual onset, minimal dysuria, and a dry or mucoid discharge. Numerous organisms can cause nongonococcal urethritis.
Urethritis symptoms typically resolve on their own over time, irrespective of treatment. Administer antibacterial medications both for the GU and NGU. Antibiotics should be administered to the following individuals regardless of symptoms:
- Results of Gram staining and culture for patients
- Sexual partners of the patients listed above
- Gram negative-positive patients with a history of urethritis who are unlikely to follow up and/or are likely to carry on transmitting the infection