Skip to main content
Log in

Urethral diverticulum in pregnancy: a case report

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Urogynecology Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Urethral diverticulum in pregnancy is a rare finding and difficult to diagnose. The classical triad of dysuria, dyspareunia and dribbling of urine is found in a minority of women.

Methods

A young woman presented during the first trimester of pregnancy with vaginal and suprapubic pain as well as voiding difficulty. Ultrasound demonstrated a 2-cm hypoechoic lesion to the left of the urethra. She went on to have a cystoscopy that demonstrated a diverticulum. She was found to have chlamydia on PCR.

Results

Her pregnancy was complicated by recurrent admissions for pain and also an episode of reactive arthritis. She underwent an uncomplicated surgical excision postpartum.

Conclusions

Urethral diverticula should be excluded whenever a patient exhibits unresolved, nonspecific urinary problems. This is an underdiagnosed problem. Pregnancy presents additional challenges, but does not preclude medical or surgical treatment in the patient with significant symptoms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Foley CL, Greenwell TJ, Gardiner RA. Urethral diverticula in females. BJU Int. 2011;108(suppl 2):20–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sherif A, Bacon M, Kim-Fine S, Weaver A, Gebhart JB, Klingele C. Incidence of urethral diverticulum: a population based analysis and literature review. Int Urogynecol J. 2014;25(1):73–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Moran PA, Carey MP, Dwyer PL. Urethral diverticula in pregnancy. Aus New Zeal J Obstet Gynaecol. 1998;38(1):102–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Iyer S, Minassian VA. Resection of urethral diverticulum in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(2 Pt 2):467–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dwarkasing RS, Dinkelaar W, Hop WC, Steensma AB, Dohle GR, Krestin GP, et al. MRI evaluation of urethral diverticula and differential diagnosis in symptomatic women. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011;197(3):676–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Antosh DD, Gutman RE. Diagnosis and management of female urethral diverticulum. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2011;17:264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frida M. Carswell.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

None.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Carswell, F.M. Urethral diverticulum in pregnancy: a case report. Int Urogynecol J 30, 2149–2151 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-03890-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-03890-4

Keywords

Navigation