What is the cause of non-specific urethritis?

It’s usually caused by an infection. The term non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is used when the condition is not caused by the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. NGU is sometimes referred to as non-specific urethritis (NSU) when no cause can be found.

How is non-specific urethritis treated?

Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is usually treated with a short course of antibiotics to kill the bacteria that caused the infection. The healthcare professionals at the sexual health clinic (also known as a GUM clinic) will arrange your treatment.

What bacteria causes non-specific urethritis?

If urethritis is caused by gonorrhoea, it is known as gonococcal urethritis. NGU can also be caused by other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia. Chlamydia is spread during unprotected sex (sex without a condom), including anal and oral sex.

Can you pass on non specific urethritis?

The infection can easily be caught through vaginal sex. It can also be acquired through anal or oral sex, although this is less common. NSU can sometimes occur without being sexually transmitted.

Can you get NSU from masturbation?

Sometimes NSU is inflammation caused by friction from masturbation and sex, or even a reaction to things like soap. NSU can also be caused by the sexually-transmitted bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium (also known as MG or Mgen).

How do you soothe irritated urethra?

Drink fluids to dilute your urine. This will lessen the pain you feel when urinating. You may take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen) and acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol) for pain control. Sitz baths can help with the burning associated with chemical irritant urethritis.

Does doxycycline treat NSU?

The choice of antibiotic for NSU is usually the same as that for NGU in general—that is, doxycycline. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, 10\%–20\% of men return to the clinic because of persisting symptoms and show signs of infection.

How long does NSU take to clear?

It may sometimes take two or three weeks for your symptoms to disappear completely. You shouldn’t have sex, including vaginal, anal and oral sex, until: you’ve finished your course of doxycycline, or it’s been seven days since you took azithromycin.