Are you aware of Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU)?

Do you sometimes feel a burning or pain when you urinate , that is, when you urinate? Or do you feel like a strange liquid is coming out of your genital area? Maybe you have a slight pain in your lower abdomen. If you have these symptoms, it is not good to just ignore them. These could be symptoms of a condition called `Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU). Today we will talk about this in a little more detail , as if we were talking to a friend.

What is NGU simply?

Okay, let's first look at what `NGU` is. `NGU` stands for "non-gonorrhoeal urethritis" . `Nongonococcal` means that it is caused by a germ other than gonorrhea. `Urethritis` is an inflammation of your urethra, the small tube through which urine passes out. Simply put, it is an inflammation or injury inside your urethra. It is also known as `Nonspecific Urethritis` (NSU). This is actually a very common condition, especially among men. Among the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men, NGU is the most commonly treated by doctors.

How does NGU develop? Who is at risk?

There are two main causes of NGU. One is transmission through sexual contact, and the other is non-sexual causes.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STIs)

NGU is often referred to as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) . This means that it can be spread by having unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who has NGU (for example, without using a condom). There are several types of germs that can cause NGU. The most common of these is the bacterium Chlamydia . In addition, other types of bacteria can cause NGU:

• ``Haemophilus vaginalis (vaginalis)''
• ` Mycoplasma genitalium (genitalium)`
• ``Ureaplasma urealyticum (urealyticum)''

Herpes simplex virus and Trichomonas vaginalis can also cause NGU, but they are less common.

Non-sexual reasons

Sometimes, NGU can occur without having sex. Some of the causes include:

• Phimosis ( tightening of the foreskin) in men.
• Damage to the urinary tract due to the use of a tube (Foley catheter ) to drain urine , as in some surgeries.
• Narrowing of the urethra (`Urethral stricture`).
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

Who is more likely to develop NGU?

Anyone can develop NGU. However, you are more likely to develop it if you are male . There are several other factors that increase your risk:

• Be between 15 and 30 years old.
• Having sex without protection.
• Having multiple sexual partners.
• Any accident or injury to the urinary tract (such as insertion of a Foley catheter).

What are the symptoms of NGU?

Imagine, if you get this `NGU` from a bacteria, symptoms usually start within a week to three weeks of infection. But sometimes you can have `NGU` without any symptoms . That's the most dangerous thing.

Symptoms in men

In men, the first symptoms may be:

• Fluid leaking from the penis (ejaculation).
• Pain when urinating (`Dysuria`).
• Pain during ejaculation (`Dysorgasmia` or `Orgasmalgia`).
• Itching , burning, and/or pain when pressed in the genital area.
• Abdominal pain .

If left untreated, the infection can become more severe. Symptoms may include:

• Pain and swelling in the testicles .
• Infertility .
• Symptoms of infection that affect other parts of the body: fever, chills, headache, and fatigue.

Symptoms in women

Women usually have fewer symptoms of NGU. However, they may experience:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge.
• Pain when urinating.
• Pain during sexual intercourse (`Dyspareunia`).
• Spotting or abdominal pain during menstruation (irregular menstruation).

How does a urinary tract infection feel?

Urethritis is a really uncomfortable condition. You may feel a burning sensation when you urinate or ejaculate. Sometimes you may feel like you are scratching inside the urethra, but it is not a place to scratch.

What happens if NGU is left untreated?

Most of the time, NGU gets better without treatment and without complications over time. This means that there is little chance of long-term health problems. However, very rarely , untreated NGU can lead to other problems. These include:

• Epididymitis : This is an inflammation of the epididymis, a tube located behind the testicles. This can cause pain in the testicles.
• Reactive arthritis (also known as Reiter's syndrome): This is a type of arthritis that can affect your spine, joints, urinary system, and eyes.
• Skin lesions or changes.
• Vaginal infections in women: Mucopurulent cervicitis (MPC) and vaginitis. If left untreated, these can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility.

Therefore, if you feel anything unusual, painful, or uncomfortable in your genital area, especially when urinating or having sex, it is best to see a doctor immediately for advice .

How does a doctor diagnose NGU?

If you think you have NGU, see a doctor. He or she will take your medical history and do a physical exam. They may also ask you questions about your sexual habits. For example:

• Are you sexually active?
• Have you had unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex in the past 60 days?
• Have you ever been tested and confirmed to have an STI?
• Have any of your partners ever been diagnosed with an STI?

You may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed when you ask these questions. But doctors are not judging you. They are trying to diagnose you in a way that will help you get better quickly. So it is very important to answer these questions honestly. Then the doctor may do some more tests to confirm the diagnosis.

What tests are being done?

Typically, a doctor will use a cotton swab to take a sample from the following areas and perform a bacteria culture test:

• Urethra
• Cervix (for women)
• Rectum
• Throat

Sometimes you can have multiple STIs at the same time. Therefore, these tests may also be done:

• Laboratory tests on the discharge from your penis or vagina.
• A blood test.
• A urine test (`Urine test - Urinalysis`).

How is NGU treated?

Doctors prescribe antibiotics to kill the germs that cause NGU. These are the types of medications that can usually be given:

• Doxycycline (` Doxycycline (Doxycycline) `) : This is a medication that needs to be taken twice a day for a week.
• Macrolide antibiotics , such as Azithromycin : This is a single-dose medication.

If you are allergic to these medications, or if your infection does not improve with these medications, consult your doctor.Either Erythromycin or Ofloxacin can be given.

It is very important that both you and your partner get treatment. If only one of you gets treatment, you can get NGU again and again.

How quickly will I recover after starting medication?

Your symptoms may improve within a week or two of starting antibiotics. If left untreated, NGU may go away on its own within a few weeks or even six months. However, you are still at risk of infecting others.

How long is it contagious from someone with NGU to another person?

You can only spread NGU to someone else if it is caused by an STI. You can spread it to someone else until you have finished the full course of antibiotics and your symptoms have completely gone. So, do not have sex until you have finished all of the medication and your symptoms have completely gone.

Can NGU recur?

Yes, `NGU` can recur. Don't think that just because it has occurred once, it won't recur.

How to protect yourself from NGU?

You can do these things to protect yourself from `NGU`:

• Always use a new condom or dental dam every time you have sex.
• If you suspect that you or your partner has an STD or other STI, avoid having sex.
• Get tested for STDs and other STIs before having sex with someone new.
• If you have multiple sexual partners, get tested for STIs regularly.

If I have NGU, what should I do? (How do I take care of myself?)

After a doctor confirms that you have NGU and prescribes antibiotics, you can do these things to stay healthy:

• Take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you. Even if your symptoms improve, take the full course of medicine prescribed. Do not share your medicine with others.
• Stop having sex for a while. Do not have sex until you have finished all of the medication and your symptoms have gone away.
• Avoid getting reinfected. Always use protection during oral, vaginal, or anal sex.
• Inform your sexual partners. Talk to everyone you've had sex with in the last three months and ask them to see a doctor and get tested too.
• See a doctor again. If your symptoms do not go away, or if they get better and then come back, see a doctor again.

Do you need to see a doctor?

Yes, if you or your partner have any symptoms of `NGU` , definitely see a doctor.Also, if you are sexually active and have multiple sexual partners, it is a good idea to get tested for STIs once a year or more frequently.

What questions should you ask the doctor?

• How do you know I have `NGU`?
• Do I have sexually transmitted `NGU`, or is it from a non-sexual cause?
• What treatment do you recommend for me?
• Should I get tested for other STIs?
• When can I have sex again?
• How can I protect myself in the future?
• Will I have long-term health problems because of NGU?
• Do I need to get tested for STIs regularly?

A few questions that many people ask

Can you get NGU without a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

Yes, you can get NGU without having an STI. NGU can also be caused by an injury or trauma to your urinary tract.

Is NGU the same as gonorrhea?

No, `NGU` and `Gonorrhea` are two different things. The symptoms can be similar. However, gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae). `NGU` is caused by a different type of bacteria, or perhaps by a wound. Therefore, gonorrhea and `NGU` require different treatments.

Finally, the most important thing (Take-Home Message)

It's normal to feel scared when you notice any unusual symptoms in your intimate areas, especially if you've had unprotected sex. You might think it's for the best, that if you just wait a little longer, the symptoms will go away on their own. However, if you ignore the symptoms, you're at a higher risk of developing complications.

If your tests confirm that you have NGU, a doctor can prescribe antibiotics that usually cure the infection. Also, if you have NGU, be sure to tell any sexual partners you have had in the past three months. It's not about whether you got it from them or they got it from you. The most important thing is to protect your health and the health of others.

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` NGU, Urinary Tract Infection, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STI, Pain During Urination , Sexual Health, Nongonococcal Urethritis