If left untreated, a urethral stricture can cause serious problems, including bladder and kidney damage, infections caused by the obstruction of urine flow, and poor ejaculation and infertility in men. Fortunately, strictures can be successfully treated.

Can urethral strictures heal themselves?

Most of the time, it is a permanent cure. We perform a urethroplasty by removing the part of the urethra with the stricture and scar tissue. If it is a long stricture, we may also add new tissue, such as a graft from the mouth (a buccal mucosal graft) or a flap of skin to help reshape urethra.

How long does a urethral stricture last?

The graft heals and matures for 3 months to a year. During that time, you will urinate through a new opening behind the stricture. This may mean that you have to sit down to urinate while the graft heals.