• Infection - repeated sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and syphilis can lead to scarring and narrowing of the urine passage.
• Trauma - any blunt injury to the penis or accidents leading to fracture of the pelvis (road traffic accidents) can lead to scarring and formation of urethral stricture.
• Previous Surgery - any prior urological endoscopic surgery such as TURP and URS can also potentially lead to the formation of stricture later in life.
• Previous catheterization or long-term catheterization for medical reasons can lead to the stricture.
• Repeated urethral urinary tract infection.
• Balantitis Xerotica Obliterans (BXO) is a medical condition that leads to extensive scarring and narrowing of a long segment of the urethra.

Narrowing of the urine passage leads to several bothersome symptoms such as:

• Weak stream.
• Straining to pass urine.
• Splitting of the urinary stream.
• Sense of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Constant desire to pass urine.
• Waking up frequently in the night to pass urine.
• Recurrent urine infections.
• Pus discharge from the penis in extreme cases.

Based on the history of the patient your urologist will do a thorough physical examination to see the status of genitalia, whether there is any pus discharge or evidence of BXO. After physical examination, a UROFLOWMETRY is conducted to assess the flow of the patient. If the flow is poor then an RGU+MCU (Retrograde Urethrogram and a Micturating Cyst Urethrogram) is conducted to assess the location and length of the stricture.

At Delhi Urology Hospital, we are fully equipped and experienced to deal with cases of stricture urethra. The treatment options available are:

1. OIU (Optical Internal Urethrectomy)

   In this procedure, using a thin telescope called a cystoscope the stricture is directly visualized. A very thin safety guidewire is placed across the narrow segment of the urethra into the bladder. After this, using laser or a cold knife, the scarred tissue of stricture is incised and widened. Post oiu surgery, a urethral catheter is placed for 5-7 days for proper healing. The Oiu procedure is a daycare surgery wherein the patient can go home the same day. The cost of OIU in Delhi starts at Rs. 25000 at Delhi Urology Hospital.

2. Urethroplasty 

   This is an open surgical procedure that gives excellent and long-lasting results in a patient with long segments of stricture urethra or those who tend to develop recurrent urethral stricture after an endoscopic procedure. The types of urethroplasty surgeries performed at Delhi Urology Hospital are:

   2.1 End-to-end Urethroplasty 

   It is usually performed for short segments of stricture urethra. In this surgery, the small segment of the scarred urethra is removed and the remaining healthy ends of the urethra are stitched together. A catheter is placed for 3-4 weeks and the patient has to stay for 2-3 days in this hospital.

   At Delhi Urology Hospital, the cost of end-to-end urethroplasty in Delhi starts at Rs. 60000.

   2.2 Substitution Urethroplasty

   This is usually performed for long segments of stricture. The narrow urethra is patched using a supply of healthy tissues such as buccal mucosa from the mouth or tissue fascia lata from the thigh. A catheter is placed for 3-4 weeks and the hospital stay is 2-3 days. At Delhi Urology Hospital, the cost of substitution urethroplasty in Delhi starts at Rs. 75000.