Why is my urethra itchy

Share Link Icon. Copied to clipboard. Table of Contents. Female urethral itchiness questionnaire Use our free symptom checker to find out what's causing your itch. Symptoms of female urethral itchiness An itch is an uncomfortable sensation on the skin that causes the urge to scratch. This sensation in the lower urethra can be associated with many conditions and symptoms including: Pain or burning Rash Redness Blisters or bumps Dryness Painful urination dysuria Genital discharge Increased frequency or urge to urinate Changes in skin texture: It may feel scaly, leathery, or papery, or the skinmay peel.

Itching that involves other parts of the body Such as the pubic area , buttocks, scrotum, and inner thigh. What causes a woman's urethra to itch? The female urinary tract is composed of the following parts: Kidneys These two organs filter toxins and waste products that will be expelled in the urine. Ureters These long tubes carry urine from the kidney to the bladder. Bladder This is the organ in which urine is stored. Urethra This is the opening where urine is expelled from the body.

These conditions can be grouped into the following categories: Infectious Infectious causes of female urethral itchiness include the following. Bacterial Bacteria within the GI tract can infect the bladder causing an infection that can result in urethral itchiness. Furthermore, many types of outside bacteria can enter the body easily via the urinary tract, including sexually transmitted bacteria such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. These bacteria can grow and multiply in the bladder causing many symptoms associated with urethral itchiness.

Bacteria from the anus can directly infect the urethra as well also resulting in similar symptoms. Viral Sexually transmitted viral infections such as herpes can cause female urethral itchiness as well as many associated symptoms such as blistering and painful bumps. Human Papillomavirus HPV is another common viral infection that results in itchy genital warts. Fungal Many fungal infections affect the skin and can cause rashes that result in intense itching and discomfort.

Candida fungi are very common on the skin and can overgrow in the genital area causing itching in addition to genital discharge. Dermatologic Dermatologic causes involve any condition involving the skin, nails, and hair. Environmental Environmental causes are related to certain exposures or lifestyle habits.

Contact allergies Scented soaps, lotions, toiletries, and other body products can irritate the genital tissue and cause itchy, dry skin. It is important to take note of how your body reacts to certain products and limit use in order to control your symptoms.

Irritation Keep in mind that not all causes of female urethral itchiness are medically related. Environmental exposures such as sweat, poor hygiene, and even uncomfortable underwear can irritate the genital area and cause symptoms. This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have. Yeast infection Yeast infections are due to alterations in the balance of microscopic organisms in the vulvar and vaginal regions.

Symptoms include itching of the vaginal and vulva, burning, redness Irritant contact dermatitis of the vagina Contact irritant dermatitis of the vagina occurs when there is an irritant of some sort that causes damage to the skin.

Symptoms of atrophic vaginitis include vaginal dry Symptoms of menopause Menopause is the name for the natural process by which the menstrual cycle period stops happening in a woman. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: fatigue, delay in or irregular periods, vaginal discharge, anxiety, trouble sleeping Symptoms that always occur with symptoms of menopause: delay in or irregular periods Urgency: Self-treatment Bacterial vaginosis Bacterial vaginosis is an inflammation of the vagina due to overgrowth of the bacteria which are normally present.

Male partners do not carry this condition, but it can spread between female partners. Pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis are at risk for premature or low-birth-weight babies. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: vaginal itch or burning, vaginal pain, painful sex, dry skin on the outside of the vagina, painful urination Urgency: Primary care doctor Vaginal trichomonas infection Trichomonas vaginalis infection or "Trichomoniasis" or "trich" is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by a parasite of the same name.

Treatment options for an itchy urethra in females If you are experiencing female urethral itchiness, make an appointment with your physician. Based on your symptoms your physician may: Test your urine: This is to see if you have an infection. Swab the vaginal area: This is to collect skin cells and determine if bacteria, yeast or other organisms are causing inflammation. Lifestyle Modifications If you are looking to prevent these symptoms, there are many things you can do at home and easily change in your routine to help prevent urethral itchiness: Soaps: Limit the use of any scented bath and body products to reduce the risk of irritation.

Safe sex: Use lubrication and condoms during sexual activity to protect yourself from irritation and sexually transmitted infections. Clothing: Wear breathable clothing around the genital area such as cotton or bamboo.

Maintain proper hygiene keep your genital area clean. Wear clean, dry clothes after activities: Do not keep wet clothes such as swimsuits or workout attire on for long periods of time. FAQs about female urethral itchiness Here are some frequently asked questions about female urethral itchiness.

Will the itching spread? The itching may spread to include other parts of the genital area such as the vagina or labia. What are some complications of female urethral itchiness? When will my symptoms of urethral itchiness resolve? Is the itchiness contagious? Is female urethral itchiness serious? Questions your doctor may ask about female urethral itchiness Do you feel pain when you urinate? Have you ever had a yeast infection?

When was your last menstrual period? Have you ever been diagnosed with diabetes? Share your story. Submit story. Request sent successfully. An error occurred, please try again later.

He currently practices as a hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital. In , Dr. Rothschild received his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in critical care medicine.

He also received an MP Read full bio. This test lets you screen for 6 common sexually transmitted infections, and gives you secure, online results quickly. Keep reading to learn about the STDs that cause itching, related symptoms, how you can find out if an STD is behind your symptoms, and more. There are several possible causes of urethral itching and discharge in men. However, two of the most common are gonorrhea gonococcal urethritis and chlamydia a form of non-gonococcal urethritis. Both STDs spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

If you think you have one of these STDs, consider getting tested with a comprehensive STD Test for men to potentially narrow down the cause of your symptoms. Many STDs have overlapping symptoms—for example, trichomoniasis symptoms in men can be similar to gonorrhea symptoms and chlamydia symptoms—so testing for multiple STDs can be a good idea.

As for the symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydia, you can have a sexually transmitted infection and not even know it. This can make it easy to unknowingly spread these infections through sexual activity. Some chlamydial infections occur without causing any noticeable STD symptoms. That being said, however, the following symptoms can develop in men:. Untreated chlamydia in men may cause long-term health problems over time. There are a range of treatments you can use to treat the problem — simply ask your local pharmacist.

Genital herpes Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Genital warts Genital warts are caused by a particular strain of human papillomavirus HPV. Urethritis caused by STDs Urethritis is where the urethra becomes inflamed mainly causing discomfort or pain whilst urinating, or causing a more frequent urge to urinate. What are the other potential causes of an itchy penis? Candidiasis male thrush Candidiasis, also known as male thrush or yeast infection, is similar to thrush in women.

Contact dermatitis Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash that can occur if your skin comes into contact with an allergen. Pubic lice Although not directly affecting the penis, pubic lice are tiny parasitic mites that attach to the hair and skin in the pubic region. Psoriasis, scabies or other general skin conditions There are a number of skin conditions that can cause itchy skin, rashes, sores or dryness on any part of the body including the genitals.

Scabies — this is a condition where tiny mites burrow under the surface of the skin causing serious itchiness. It can affect any area of the body, including causing an itchy penis.

Psoriasis — this is another chronic skin condition that can affect the penis. Psoriasis is a condition where too many skin cells are created, causing scaly red patches on the surface of the skin. Lichen planus — this is another skin condition that causes itchy flat topped bumps or blisters on the surface of the skin.

Eczema — this is a chronic skin condition that causes itchy, red, dry and cracked. It may affect the pubic region. Jock itch Jock itch is an itchy fungal infection that occurs in the genital area.