Urethral diverticulum in pregnancy: a case report.

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.