Signs & Symptoms
Recognize the early signs that indicate you may need medical attention
Weak Urine Stream
Progressively weakening, thin, or split urinary stream — the hallmark symptom of stricture.
Straining to Urinate
Needing to push or strain to initiate and maintain urination.
Incomplete Bladder Emptying
Residual urine sensation after voiding due to incomplete bladder emptying.
Urethral Discharge
Purulent or mucoid discharge from the urethra in infection-related strictures.
Acute Urinary Retention
Complete inability to urinate — requires emergency urethral catheterisation or suprapubic drainage.
Spraying Stream
Urine spraying in multiple directions due to scarring at the urethral opening (meatus).
Common Causes & Risk Factors
Previous Catheterisation or Instrumentation
Traumatic urethral catheterisation is a leading cause of iatrogenic (medical) urethral stricture.
Gonococcal Urethritis (STI)
Gonorrhoea is historically the most common infectious cause of urethral stricture in developing countries.
Pelvic Trauma
Road accidents and pelvic fractures can disrupt the posterior urethra — bulbar or membranous stricture.
Lichen Sclerosus (BXO)
Autoimmune scarring disease of the foreskin and meatus causing progressive urethral stricture.
Previous Hypospadias Repair
Complications from childhood hypospadias surgery are a common cause of complex anterior urethral strictures.
Treatment Options
Advanced minimally invasive techniques for better outcomes and faster recovery
Uroflowmetry & Urethrogram
Flow rate measurement and retrograde urethrogram to define stricture location, length, and severity.
OIU (Optical Internal Urethrotomy)
Endoscopic incision of the stricture under direct vision — suitable for short bulbar strictures.
Buccal Mucosal Urethroplasty
Gold standard open reconstruction using oral mucosa graft — 80–90% success for long strictures.
Self-Catheterisation (CIC)
Clean intermittent catheterisation post-OIU to prevent rescarring and maintain urethral calibre.
Benefits at Chahal Hospital
Immediate Relief
Dramatic improvement in urine flow from the day of treatment.
Endoscopic OIU
Day-care procedure using natural urinary passage — no skin incision for short strictures.
Durable Urethroplasty
Buccal mucosal urethroplasty provides 80–90% long-term cure for complex strictures.
MCh Specialist
Dr. Ajay Chahal trained in advanced endourology and urethral reconstruction.
Fast Recovery
OIU: next-day discharge; Urethroplasty: 3–5 days with Foley catheter for 3 weeks.
Regular Surveillance
Uroflowmetry follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months to detect early recurrence.
Your Specialist
Dr. Ajay Chahal
Consultant – Urology & Uro-Surgery
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Urology)
Book AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions
OIU (endoscopic incision) has recurrence rates of 30–70% over 5 years. Urethroplasty using buccal mucosal graft provides 80–90% durable cure rates for long or recurrent strictures. Your urologist will advise the best approach based on your specific stricture.
No. OIU is performed under spinal or general anaesthesia. A Foley catheter is kept for 1–3 days post-procedure. You will have mild discomfort from the catheter, which resolves after removal.
An RGU is an X-ray procedure where contrast dye is injected into the urethra to outline the stricture. It precisely shows the location, length, and number of stricture segments, guiding treatment planning.
Tissue is harvested from the inner cheek (oral mucosa) — a hairless, infection-resistant epithelium. It is fashioned as a graft and used to reconstruct the scarred urethra during urethroplasty.
A urethral catheter is maintained for 3 weeks after urethroplasty to allow the graft to heal in place. It is removed after a urethrogram confirms adequate healing.
Ready to Get Treatment?
Consult our expert specialists for Urethral Stricture Treatment. Advanced, minimally invasive care with faster recovery and lasting results.