Female urethra dilation: things you shoud know before you meet your urologist

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Introduction of urethral dilation in female

Urethra dilation is a delicate medical procedure done underanesthesis by a urologist or urosurgeon. The procedure is done after careful evaluation and by well trained professionals. Before going deeper into female urethra dilation lets review anatomy of female urethra in brief.

Urethral structure if pathological narrowing of urethra due to different reasons leading to difficulty passing urine and various other symptoms and consequences.

Anatomy of female urethra

Female urethra is tubular musculocutaneous organelle situation in genital region of female that connects bladder to the outer world. The urethra carries urine from bladder to the outside. The flow of urine from bladder is controlled by two valves viz. Internal and external urethral valves. The internal urethral valve is controlled by autonomic nervous system while external is under voluntary control. The overall length of fenale urethra is 4 centimetres or 1.5 inches.

 (Source: Textbook of anatomy 7e, Moore et al. )

Female urinary system anatomy 

Indications of urethral dilation 

1. Stricture
2. Trauma
3. Prostate problems 
4. Adhesion
5. Mass effect
6. Pelvic organs prolapse

(Source: Uptodate.com)

Sex after female urethra dilation

Sexual intercourse after female urrthra dilatation may become difficult rarely. Difficult or painful sexual intercourse is called dysparaunia and it may have several other causes including vaginal infection, dry vagina and many more listed as below. 

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Causes of painful sexual intercourse

Painful sexual intercourse or dyspareunia can be because of external genital problems to internal vaginal, uterine or pelvic disorders. Urethra also being near vagina can be the reason for dyspareunia where as other nearby organs and structures can also be part of it. It is also called genitopelvic pain. The causes of painful intercourse can be listed as below:

1. Vulvovaginal atrophy 
2. Endometriosis
3. Physical assault
4. Sexual assaults
5. Emotional and mental trauma
6. Abuse
7. Gastrointestinal causes
8. Constipation
9. Vulvar skin atrophy
10. Vulvar cancer
11. Lichen
12. Condyloma, HPV
13. Fibromyalgia
14. Musculoskeletal
15. Vulvodynia
16. Vaginismus
17. Vestibulodynia
18. Vulvitis
19. Vaginitis
20. Adenomyosis
21. Uterine fibroids
22. PID /infection
23. Pelvic adhesive disease
24. Ovarian mass
25. Diabetes
26. Thyroid disorders
27. Vitamin deficiency
28. Hormone imbalance (estrogen, progesterone)
29. Cancers

(Source: Medscape.com)

Anatomy of female urinary system 

Extreme female urethra dilation

The flow of urine from bladder is controlled by two valves viz. Internal and external urethral valves. The internal urethral valve is controlled by autonomic nervous system while external is under voluntary control.

Extreme female urethra dikagyrefers to dilating urethra above the normal anatomical diameter as expected of that age. 

This will be done in case of following indications

1. Severe structure 
2. Recurring stricture
3. Severe trauma
4. Bladder infections
5. Prostate problems
6. Uncured symptoms despite previous procedure
7. Risk of need for repeated procedure
8. Co-morbidities

When to visit a doctor after urethra dilation?

1. Retention
2. Hesitant
3. Urgency
4. Dribbling
5. Dysuria
6. Frequency
7. Nocturia
8. Intermittent stream
9. Incomplete urination
10. Painful sexual intercourse
11. Vaginal discharge
12. Foul smelling urine
13. Urine color change
14. Abdominal pain
15. Fever and weakness
16. Leakage of urine

Left kidney sketch

Female sexual dysfunction/disorders list

1. Female sexual interest disorder
2. Female sexual arousal disorder
3. Female sexual pain disorder
4. Female sexual penetrative disorder
5. Female orgasmic disorder