Smear or scraping is a fairly common method of clinical research, allowing to determine the presence of infection or inflammation. They are taken when there is a suspicion of any disease or when scheduled by the doctor. Such tests include a smear from the urethra. It is taken both in women and in men. It helps to detect pathogens in the urinary tract and pathogens of various diseases. Often such an analysis is performed with cystitis to select the most appropriate treatment.
A smear from the urethra to the flora of men is taken at every visit to the urologist, because it allows you to identify not only diseases of the urinary tract, but also various venereal infections. If there is pain during urination, rash, itching, or any discharge, a visit to a doctor and conducting such an analysis is mandatory.
How is a smear from the urethra taken?
This procedure is a little painful, especially if there is inflammation. A special probe, a cotton swab or a thin applicator is inserted into the urethra. A smear from the urethra in women is taken when you visit a gynecologist at the same time as a vaginal scraping. The probe is inserted at a depth of 2-3 centimeters, for men deeper. The applicator needs to be slightly rotated to get epithelial cells on it. Therefore, when asked to take a smear from the urethra: "Does it hurt to do it?" Most often they respond positively. After all, with inflammation of the wall of the urethra is very sensitive. This procedure though painful, but short-lived. The collected material is placed on slides, slightly dried, and sometimes painted with special dyes.
Decoding of the smear from the urethra occurs in the laboratory, the results can be ready in a day. According to his data, it is possible to identify at an early stage such diseases as cystitis, prostatitis, urethritis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea and many other diseases. But some infections are not detected in routine analysis. To detect such viruses as genital herpes , chlamydia and papilloma, a PCR smear is used from the urethra.
When deciphering the results of the analysis, the number of leukocytes, red blood cells, purulent cells and mucus is determined. The composition of the microflora is also revealed, which can indicate the presence of inflammation or fungal infection. Normally, a smear from the urethra allows the presence of a small number of leukocytes (up to 5), erythrocytes (up to 2), a few cells of epithelium and mucus. And all the rest that is found after the analysis, indicates the presence of the disease.
Preparing for a smear from the urethra
In order for the analysis picture to be true, you need to behave correctly before it.
- Select the time. It is advisable to do it in the morning before the first visit to the toilet or 2-3 hours after.
- It is not recommended to wash the external genitalia before visiting a doctor, so as not to disturb the microflora.
- A couple of days before the analysis it is desirable not to have sex.
- If you are taking antibiotics or antibacterial drugs, then a smear can be taken only a week after taking the last medicine.
- When taking the analysis, it is desirable for women to have a week
after the end of menstruation. - Women one day before taking the test can not use vaginal suppositories and syringing.
- 1-2 days before the smear you need to stop using alcohol.
Sometimes a doctor is treated with a complaint that after taking a smear from the urethra it is painful to write. Usually such feelings go away after a while. Do not restrain yourself and limit the amount of fluid. On the contrary, we must drink more water and go to the toilet more often. If you suffer, the pain will pass by itself.