Question For Peggy Vee

[mwilliams001us]

Hi Peggy,

Long time member but I don't post that much. Have a question and I am hoping you can help.

My wife has been post op for 17 years and in the past 2 or 3 years she has become less and less willing to engage intercourse. While I assumed that this was just normal marriage blues, a new problem came up last week.

After a urinary tract infection the doctor told my wife that her urethra might have degraded (i.e. gotten smaller near the opening) and if she continues to have this problem they might need surgery to clear it up.

Is this normal? Have you, or someone you know, come across this?

Thank you for the advice.

[peggygee]

Sawadee ka to your wife and you.

I have had urinary tract infections, in fact I have had more post
operatively, than I had pre operatively.

Why?

Well there are a few reasons:

1. The urethra of a woman is shorter than a man's, and bacteria will have
a shorter distance to travel to reach the bladder.

2. The close proximity of the vagina to the rectum allows for the relatively
easy transmission of Escherichia coli, also known as E coli, between the
two, when wiping or in the course of daily activities.

3. Then there's sex, sexual fluids or lubricants left after intercourse may
lead to a UTI.

Additional causes are nylon and other synthetic underwear which may
lead to bacterial growth. Constant wearing of tight and constricting
garments may be problematic as well.

Use of a diaphragm or spermicides, irritation to the genital area, harsh
soaps with perfumes and dyes, not completely emptying the bladder,
using rough toilet tissue and vigorous wiping are a few factors leading to
UTIs.

Symptoms of a UTI may be a burning sensation when you urinate, or as
I like to call it "pissing razor blades". There may be a feeling of constantly
needing to urinate, and when you do there is only a small amounts of
urine.

You may experience pain in your lower back, sometimes the stomach.
Your urine may be cloudy and very strong smelling.

The good news is that taking an anti-biotic like Ciprofloxacin,
Sulfamethoxazole, and lots of cranberry juice, and water, and the
infection will be knocked out in no time.

From what you have described and from my knowledge and experience of
UTIs, I don't get a sense that there has been any necrosis or the localized
death of living cells due to the her urinary tract infection.

And the fact that your wife is over 17 years post operative doesn't lead
me to feel that there would be any complications related to her GCS.

Bottom line, I've got to be honest and say that I would seek a second
opinion. If the doctor in question is aware of your wife's trans-past, he
may be linking any symptomatology to that.

Take good care, and by all means please keep me apprised.

[mwilliams001us]

Peggy,

Thank you for the information as this help me to learm more about the issue and support my wife.

Merry Christmas...