[1] Men may experience blood in the urine or semen, itching, tenderness, or swelling of the penis, enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area, and/or pain with intercourse or ejaculation.

[6] Non-gonococcal urethritis typically does not have noticeable symptoms in women, however, the infection can spread to parts of the reproductive system.

In males, complications can lead to epididymitis, reactive arthritis, conjunctivitis, skin lesions, and discharge.

Other causes include:[1][10] Urethritis is usually diagnosed through collecting history on the individual and through a physical examination.

[18] Women will also have abdominal and pelvic exams to check for urethral discharge, and tenderness of the lower abdomen or urethra.

[19] Primary prevention can be accomplished by the reduction of modifiable risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing urethritis.

[1] Bacterial infections leading to gonococcal and non-gonococcal urethritis can be prevented by: Chlorhexidine is an antibacterial agent that covers a wide spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

The CDC in 2015 suggests using a dual therapy that consists of two antimicrobials that have different mechanisms of action would be an effective treatment strategy for urethritis and it could also potentially slow down antibiotic resistance.

This includes avoiding use of vaginal deodorant sprays and proper wiping after urination and bowel movements.

[24] Gonorrhea is more commonly seen in males than in females and infection rates are higher in adolescents and young adults.

[1] The estimated global prevalence of chlamydia, which is the most common cause of non-gonococcal urethritis, is 3.8% in women and 2.7% in men.