Non-Specific Urethritis
Non-specific urethritis (NSU), also known as non-gonococcal urethritis, is an infection of the urethra in both men and women, for which the exact cause is not always clear. It most commonly develops as a result of unprotected sexual intercourse, but other factors have also been linked to the infection. It is not always easy to diagnose, particularly in women.
How common is it?
Non-specific urethritis symptoms are rare, especially in women, which means that a clear indication of how common it is cannot always be given but, around 80,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with the condition every year.
How do you get it?
The infection tends to be most common in people who have regular unprotected sexual intercourse, but it can also develop as a result of vigorous sexual activity, whether you use protection or not. Other sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhoea have all been linked with non-specific urethritis, but something as simple as using a different washing powder or body wash have also been noted as causes.
Is it dangerous?
Non-specific urethritis shouldn’t be left untreated as it can lead to further health problems. In women, it can eventually cause pelvic inflammatory disease, increase the risk of ectopic pregnancies, and a thinning of cervical mucus, which could make you more susceptible to other reproductive infections.
Men can develop recurrent urethritis (which won’t go away in spite of treatment); Reiter’s Syndrome, which is a type of arthritis that develops in reaction to an infection in your body; and epididymo-orchitis, which is when the epididymis and testicles are inflamed simultaneously.
How is it diagnosed?
Non-specific urethritis is difficult to diagnose, because it’s asymptomatic and the symptoms are similar to many other types of genital infections. It’s usually only diagnosed if no other cause of inflammation has been identified such as a chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection.
If you are experiencing symptoms as a result of the infection, they are most likely to include, in male cases, a cloudy discharge from the penis, inflammation of the head of the penis, burning sensation when urinating, or an increased urge to urinate. Women are unlikely to experience any of these early symptoms, and only when the infection has spread to other areas is it likely to appear that something is wrong. If you are a woman experiencing abdominal pain, bleeding between periods, an unusual discharge, fever and/or vomiting, you should seek medical advice straightaway.
Because diagnosis can prove difficult, a non-specific urethritis test is the most effective way to provide clarity. This can be requested from your doctor or GUM clinic.
Non-specific urethritis test
You can go to your doctor or GUM clinic to request or you could order a test from an online STI clinic. When you visit your doctor, you may be asked to take a swab of the affected area or to provide a urine sample, which will then be sent to a laboratory to confirm diagnosis. This is similar to how STI clinics such as LabsDirect work. With LabsDirect you can collect a sample at home and send it straight to the laboratory yourself. The service is completely confidential and all results come straight back to you.
Can it be cured?
Non-specific urethritis is completely curable with the use of antibiotics. Azithromycin and Doxycycline are commonly recommended and are typically the treatments used to treat conditions such as chlamydia. Most people usually require a single course of Azithromycin and Doxycycline to be completely cured of infection. Azithromycin is a single high dose treatment, while Doxycycline is taken for a course of seven to ten days.
