Most cases of urethral discharge in both males and females are due to gonorrhea or Chlamydia trachomatis . When the smear and culture are negative for gonorrhea, a course of tetracycline can be given as a therapeutic trial to diagnose Chlamydia infection. Alternatively, the urine can be cultured for chlamydia. Other etiologies for nongonococcal urethritis are Ureaplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis . Alert the laboratory in advance if these organisms are suspected because they may require special culture media for isolation. A prostate examination should always be done in males, as acute and chronic prostatitis are common causes of urethral discharge. In teenagers, a urethral discharge may develop in prolonged abstinence or excessive masturbation. Rarer causes of urethral discharge are syphilis, tuberculosis, foreign body, and herpes. Carcinoma of the urethra is extremely rare.
Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Urethritis:
Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.
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Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9 
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