Urethral Stricture

Contact a healthcare provider if you have a slow or weak pee stream. They may order noninvasive tests to find issues you may have emptying your bladder, though they may not directly identify a urethral stricture. These tests may include:

• Urine flow tests. Urine flow tests measure the speed of your pee (flow rate) when you use the restroom.
• Post-void residual urine test (PVR). A PVR test uses imaging tests to determine how much pee remains in your bladder after using the restroom. Typically, your bladder is empty or nearly empty after you pee. But if you have a stricture, some pee may remain in your bladder.

Noninvasive tests can’t determine if a urethral stricture or another condition is affecting your ability to drain your bladder. If a provider suspects a stricture, they may order a retrograde urethrogram to identify and measure it. A retrograde urethrogram is a type of X-ray procedure. The provider will insert a contrast dye into your urethra. The dye helps the provider locate the stricture and its length.

The provider may also perform a cystoscopy. During a cystoscopy, they’ll insert a small, flexible scope with a camera at the end into your urethra. The cystoscope allows the provider to identify and locate a stricture. Before the procedure, they’ll insert a numbing medication into your urethra to reduce discomfort.