Meatal Stenosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Meatal Stenosis?
A pediatrician, a doctor for children, often spots meatal stenosis in boys. A urologist, a doctor who treats the urinary tract, treats it, and children may see a pediatric urologist. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is meatal stenosis?
Meatal stenosis is a narrowing of the opening of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that lets urine leave the body. The opening is called the meatus.
It can affect both males and females, but it is more common in males. In boys, the narrowing is often visible at the tip of the penis. Another name for it is urethral meatal stenosis.
Symptoms
A narrow opening changes how urine comes out. Symptoms can include:
- Urine that comes out with an unusual strength or in an unusual direction.
- In boys, a stream that points upward, which makes it hard to aim into the toilet.
- Taking longer to urinate and not emptying the bladder completely.
- Discomfort or straining when urinating.
- Bed wetting.
- Incontinence, which is leaking urine, by day or night.
- Blood in the urine at the end of urination.
- A visible narrowing of the urethral opening in boys.
The problem may not be noticed until a child is toilet trained.
Causes and who gets it
In boys, meatal stenosis is often caused by swelling and irritation. In most cases it happens in newborns after circumcision. Scar tissue can grow across the opening and make it smaller. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it is most often found in children between ages three and seven.
In adult men, it can follow surgery on the urethra, long-term use of a urinary catheter, or a procedure for an enlarged prostate gland. In females, it is most often present at birth. It is less common in adult women. Having many cystoscopy procedures, where a thin scope looks inside the bladder, is a risk. So is severe, long-term atrophic vaginitis, which is thinning and irritation of the vaginal lining.
How doctors diagnose it
In men and boys, a history and a physical exam are enough to make the diagnosis. The doctor may also watch the child urinate. A urine test can rule out a urinary tract infection or diabetes as causes of urinary frequency.
In girls, a voiding cystourethrogram may be done. This is an x-ray test taken while the child urinates. The narrowing may also be found during an exam or when a provider tries to place a catheter.
Other tests may include a kidney and bladder ultrasound, a urine analysis, and a urine culture.
Treatment
Treatment depends on age and sex. In some boys, a steroid cream put on the penis can correct the problem. Doctors use it in some cases.
In boys, a minor outpatient surgery called meatoplasty is the treatment of choice. It widens the opening. The surgery is very minor and usually needs only local anesthesia. Afterward a child may have some minor discomfort for a short time. Stretching the opening, called dilation, may also be right in some cases.
In females, treatment is most often done in the provider's office. The area is numbed, and the opening is widened with special tools.
Most people urinate normally after treatment.
When to see a doctor
Contact your provider if your child has symptoms of this problem. Talk to a pediatrician if a son has a very small or narrow stream, strains to urinate, dribbles, or sprays urine. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it is not a serious condition, but it should be checked to see if it needs treatment.
Possible complications include blood in the urine and urinary tract infections. In severe cases, bladder or kidney function can be harmed. Tell the doctor about any of these signs.
To help prevent it in a newly circumcised baby boy, keep the diaper clean and dry. Avoid exposing the penis to irritants.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either kind of doctor can check urinary symptoms, order a urine test, and refer a child to a urologist. They can also follow up after treatment.
Common questions
Is meatal stenosis serious?
Meatal stenosis is not a serious condition, but a doctor should check it. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it should be evaluated to see if it needs treatment. In severe cases, it can harm bladder or kidney function.
What causes meatal stenosis in boys?
In boys, swelling and irritation often cause it. In most cases it happens in newborns after circumcision, when scar tissue grows across the opening. Keeping the diaper clean and dry may help protect a newly circumcised penis.
Can meatal stenosis be fixed?
Yes, meatal stenosis can be treated, and most people urinate normally afterward. In boys, a minor outpatient surgery called meatoplasty is the treatment of choice. A steroid cream or dilation may work for some.
At what age is meatal stenosis usually found?
In boys, it is most often found between ages three and seven. It can develop at any time during childhood. It may go unnoticed until a child is toilet trained.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Meatal stenosis
- HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics) - Meatal Stenosis
- National Library of Medicine (PubMed Central) - Surgical Management of Meatal Stenosis with Meatoplasty
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
