Urethral Strictures can occur in men and women.
They are more common in men.
They cause a narrowing of the urethra resulting in difficulty emptying the bladder and slow flow of urine. Urine infections may result from incomplete bladder emptying.
They are usually diagnosed by cystopscopy or urethrogram (X-Ray).
Occassionally a mild stricture may respond just to dilatation (stretching) but often surgery (urethroplasty) is required to correct the problem.