• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
Center for Women's Pelvic Health

Center for Women's Pelvic Health at UCLA

Center for Women's Pelvic Health
  • About Us
    • Welcome
    • Contact Us
    • News & Media
    • Webinars & Videos
  • Conditions Treated
    • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
    • Fecal Incontinence
    • Neurogenic Bladder
    • Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
    • Urinary Incontinence
    • Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
    • Fistulas
    • Urethral Diverticulum
    • Urethral Stricture
    • Overactive Bladder
    • Postpartum Pelvic Floor Conditions
  • Urinary Incontinence & Overactive Bladder
    • What is Urinary Incontinence
    • Symptoms & Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • Childbirth & Incontinence
    • Overactive Bladder
  • Diagnostic Testing & Office Services
    • Postpartum Pelvic Floor Health Program
    • Urodynamics
    • Botox for Overactive Bladder
    • Injections for Incontinence
    • PTNS
  • Patient Education
    • Childbirth & Incontinence
    • Pelvic Floor Disorders
    • Vaginal Rejuvenation Vs. Pelvic Floor Reconstruction
    • Uterine Prolapse Treatment Without Hysterectomy
  • Patient Information
    • Get an Expert Second Opinion
    • Contact Us & Locations
    • Your First Visit
    • Webinars & Videos
    • My UCLA Health
  • Training & Research
    • Education
    • Research
  • Expert Team
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

Center for Women's Pelvic Health at UCLA

Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated

Conditions Treated

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  • Fecal Incontinence
  • Neurogenic Bladder
  • Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
  • Urinary Incontinence
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
  • Fistulas
  • Urethral Diverticulum
  • Urethral Stricture
  • Overactive Bladder
  • Postpartum Pelvic Floor Conditions
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  • Fecal Incontinence
  • Neurogenic Bladder
  • Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
  • Urinary Incontinence
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
  • Fistulas
  • Urethral Diverticulum
  • Urethral Stricture
  • Overactive Bladder
  • Postpartum Pelvic Floor Conditions
  1. Home
  2. Conditions Treated
  3. Urethral Diverticulum

Urethral Diverticulum

Share this
Request An Appointment

 

What is a urethral diverticulum?

A urethral diverticulum is a cystic structure (or pouch) that is connected to the urethra. It is thought to arise from inflammation or infection in the glands that are situated just next to the urethra. The prevalence is unknown, however it is reported to occur between 1% and 6% of adult females. Symptoms may include dysuria (burning with urination), dyspareunia (painful intercourse), and dribbling of urine after urination. Other symptoms may include recurrent urinary tract infections, feeling of a vaginal mass or bulge, hematuria (blood in the urine), vaginal discharge, difficulty urinating or slow urinary stream, or urinary incontinence. Some patients may not have any symptoms at all.

What causes a urethral diverticulum?

Urethral diverticula can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired. Inflammation of the glands adjacent to the urethra which formation of an abscess that eventually invades into the urethra is thought be a common cause. Vaginal birth and trauma have been thought to contribute to the formation of a urethral diverticulum, where the urethral lining (mucosa) herniates through the muscular layers.

How is a urethral diverticulum diagnosed?

A complete evaluation includes a pelvic examination, urinalysis, cystoscopy and imaging. There are many different imaging modalities that may show the urethral diverticulum including a voiding cystourethrogram, ultrasound, and MRI. A urodynamics study may be obtained if the patient's symptoms include urinary incontinence.

What is the treatment for a urethral diverticulum?

The preferred treatment for a urethral diverticulum is surgical excision. These are complex vaginal reconstructive surgeries that should be undertaken by an experienced surgeon. In some cases one may choose not to treat the diverticulum and elect observation.

Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest

Sign in to myUCLAhealth

Learn more about myUCLAhealth