subject: A brief description of NSU [print this page] Non-specific urethritis (NSU) is an inflammation of the urethra. It is non-specific because we do not know what the cause of the urethritis is.
Gonorrhoea causes urethritis but this is a more serious type of urethral infection than NSU. NSU means that the cause of the urethritis is not known but that we know it is not caused by gonorrhoea. However, approximately 40% of all cases are thought to result from the transmission of chlamydia. If Chlamydia is ultimately diagnosed, the source of the symptoms will no longer be described as NSU.
The symptoms vary greatly from men to women. The symptoms men experience include, urethral pain, urinary pain; while urinating and shortly after, a red and painful urethra, an increase in the number of occasions where passing urine, and a urethral discharge. In women surprisingly, there are few or no symptoms. Sometimes a woman may experience urinary pain and a frequency in the need to urinate also. They may also experience pain of the pelvis, a vaginal discharge, and pain during sexual intercourse.
There are risks with leaving NSU untreated and they include serious complications such as sterility in women. In women who are pregnant and experience this type of urethritis, they are at high risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma can also cause NSU symptoms but the bacteria die after a course of antibiotics. These bacteria can be detected from a urine sample or a swab but the NHS does not test for them. You can be tested at a GUM clinic or request an STI test kit from an online STI clinic. In order to prevent NSU, wear a condom when having sexual intercourse and it is recommended that one should have regular STI check-ups. For more information about STI related issue please visit http://www.thesticlinic.com/
