Non-Specific Urethritis (NSU)
Both girls and guys can get non-specific urethritis (NSU).
Non-specific urethritis usually means there’s an infection in the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside) that is not caused by one of the common STIs.
Symptoms
- Symptoms might include a discharge (unusual fluid) from the vagina or penis, a burning/stinging sensation when passing urine or irritation (redness, swelling, soreness) of the penis. Untreated NSU can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women.
- People with NSU may not have any signs or symptoms, which mean people may have the infection and pass it onto their partners during sex without knowing it.
How do you get it?
NSU is mainly spread through unsafe sexual contact, including oral sex. Sometimes, the organism or bug that has caused the NSU can't be found or identified but it can be easily treated.
What's the treatment?
NSU can be treated with antibiotics. To make sure the infection's gone, it's important to take all the tablets, and not to have sex until you have finished the course of treatment.
What to do
For advice, see your local doctor, family planning clinic or sexual health clinic.
More info
- Read a detailed fact sheet about NSU
- Find out more about safe sex.