Inflammation of the Urethra involved in NSU

Non-specific urethritis is a condition which can potentially cause a painful burning during urination, and if left untreated, lead to complex infections of the reproductive tract that can potentially lead to infertility. The condition can be a consequence of injury or infection, and in this article we will look at what exactly it is that happens to the urethra during non-specific urethritis.

The mechanism of NSU

Non-specific urethritis affects a biological structure called the urethra, which is essentially a tube running from our bladder through which we urinate. The urethra is positioned within the genitals, which is why exposure to sexually transmitted infections can result in infections of this tube.

Infection or injury to the urethra triggers the body’s defensive mechanism, a complex and highly evolved system which reacts to any potential threats to combat infection and maintain health. One of the reactions to an infection is inflammation, an important part of our immune reaction to a huge range of different infections.

Inflammation presents with a painful swelling and reddening which is readily observed when it affects a cut or other injury. The inflammation of the urethra is within the body, but the same swelling and reddening also occurs, even if we can’t see it. In many cases, particularly in men, the swelling of the urethra can make urination extremely painful, causing a characteristic burning sensation.

While it may seem like inflammation is counter-productive, it is in fact an extremely important physiological response to infection. Inflammation affects our blood vessels and is part of an attempt to isolate a site of infection and prevent the spread of infectious material to other parts of the body. Inflammation also kick starts the healing process, interestingly, without inflammation, a wound would not heal as the bodily processes needed to successfully initiate healing are not triggered.

Of course inflammation is not necessarily always a good thing. In autoimmune disease, inflammation is usually unwanted and the source of the condition’s symptoms. Autoimmune diseases involve an immune reaction to the body’s own tissues as a result of a misinterpretation of the signals that, in a healthy person, indicate ‘self’ and foreign cells. This is a mechanism of recognition which is normally responsible for our defence’s ability to discriminate between our own tissues and foreign infectious agents. Autoimmune diseases will typically involve the abnormal inflammation of bodily tissues, like the inflammation of the joints typical of reactive or rheumatoid arthritis.

While the symptoms of NSU might suggest that the inflammation is unwanted, in this particular instance the reaction is perfectly justified and healthy, despite the unpleasantness a sufferer might experience. The inflammation of the urethra experienced during NSU is not an autoimmune reaction, but simply the body’s attempt to isolate the infection and deal with it quickly and effectively. Even when NSU is a consequence of injury, the body’s inflammatory response is protective.

Considering the fact that over time untreated NSU and any underlying infection can develop into a more serious condition affecting fertility, the body’s inflammatory response is critically important to your overall health after an infection with NSU.

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