Meatal stenosis

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Meatal stenosis

Meatal stenosis is a narrowing of the opening of the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.

Urethral meatal stenosis

Meatal stenosis can affect both males and females, but it is more common in males. In males, it is often caused by inflammation following the circumcision of a newborn. This leads to abnormal tissue growth and scarring across the urethral opening. The problem is usually not detected until the child is toilet trained.

In females, this condition is a congenital (present from birth) abnormality which can cause urinary tract infections and bed-wetting. Although less common, this condition may also be seen in adult women. It may occur if multiple endoscopic procedures (cystoscopy) have been performed, or if the person suffers from severe, long-term atrophic vaginitis.

Review Date: 08/17/2006
Reviewed By: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.