Adolescent Urethral Prolapse

Urethral prolapse occurs only in girls and means that the inner lining of the urethra (tube that drains urine out of the body) sticks out and appears larger than normal.

What is an Adolescent Urethral Prolapse?

Urethral prolapse occurs when the inner lining of the urethra (tube that drains urine from the bladder to outside the body) sticks out. It usually looks larger than normal and like a small, pink donut.

Urethral prolapse occurs exclusively in females, and is most common in young girls before puberty (between the ages of 10 and 14 for girls*). It is more likely to occur in girls who are African American or Hispanic.

What are the signs and symptoms of an Adolescent Urethral Prolapse?

Some girls with this condition do not have any symptoms. Some girls with urethral prolapse notice:

Blood in their underwear
Tenderness when wiping themselves after using the bathroom

*Age of puberty is middle childhood to teenage years as defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

What are the causes of an Adolescent Urethral Prolapse?

While the exact cause of urethral prolapse is not always known, it is more likely to occur in girls who have a history of:

All of these conditions increase pressure on the abdomen, which can, in turn, increase pressure on the urethra.