Non-Specific Urethritis (NSU) in Malaysia: Symptoms, Testing & Treatment
Non-specific urethritis (NSU) - also called non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) - is inflammation of the urethra not caused by gonorrhoea. Common culprits include chlamydia (40-50%), Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasma. Standard treatment is a short oral antibiotic course; persistent NSU requires Mycoplasma genitalium testing with resistance profiling and a guideline-directed second-line antibiotic.
Disemak secara perubatan oleh Dr. Azzim Emir · MBChB, berdaftar MMC · Patogen: Mixed - Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Trichomonas, adenoviruses; ~20-30% truly idiopathic · ICD-10 N34.1

What is non-specific urethritis (nsu)?
Non-specific urethritis (NSU) is a clinical diagnosis applied when a man (or person with a penis) has urethral inflammation - discharge, burning urination, urethral discomfort - but tests negative for gonorrhoea. The term covers a mix of identified and unidentified pathogens.
Most NSU is caused by an STI even when no specific organism is found, so it is treated empirically. Persistent or recurrent NSU points to Mycoplasma genitalium until proven otherwise.
Patogen: Mixed - Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Trichomonas, adenoviruses; ~20-30% truly idiopathic (Multiple - bacterial and viral).
Bagaimana ia tersebar
- Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex (most common cause)
- Some cases are non-sexually acquired (UTI, urethral trauma, irritation)
- Sharing sex toys without barrier protection
Siapa yang berisiko? Haruskah saya diuji?
- Sexually active men under 35
- New or multiple partners in past 6 months
- Penggunaan kondom yang tidak konsisten
- Previous STI or persistent urethral symptoms
- Partner recently treated for chlamydia or gonorrhoea
Haruskah saya diuji? Pemeriksaan diri cepat
Jawab soalan di bawah - perkhidmatan peribadi anda boleh memberi nasihat tentang langkah seterusnya.
- Do you have urethral discharge that is clear, white or cloudy?
- Do you have burning or stinging during urination?
- Adakah anda melakukan hubungan seks tanpa perlindungan dalam 6 minggu lepas?
- Have your symptoms persisted after a previous antibiotic course?
- Has a partner been diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhoea or Mycoplasma genitalium?
Gejala
- Clear, white or cloudy urethral discharge (often mild)
- Burning or stinging during urination
- Itching, tickling or discomfort in the urethra
- Urethral meatus redness
- Mild testicular ache (epididymitis if untreated)
- Often less dramatic than gonococcal urethritis
Tanpa gejala pada lelaki
By definition NSU is symptomatic urethritis - but the underlying organism (e.g. Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma) is often silent in partners
Tanpa gejala pada wanita
Female partners commonly carry the causative organism without urethral symptoms but may develop pelvic inflammatory disease
Sumber: rujuk rujukan [1] di bawah.
Statistik Malaysia
| NSU is one of the most common reasons for sexual health consultations among Malaysian men | [2] |
| Chlamydia trachomatis identified in NSU cases | ~40-50%[1] |
| Mycoplasma genitalium identified in NSU cases | ~10-30%[1] |
| Truly idiopathic NSU (no organism identified) | ~20-30%[1] |
| Recurrence/persistence rate after first-line treatment | ~10-20% (often M. genitalium)[1] |
Ujian & tempoh jendela
Kaedah
NAAT (PCR) for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and Mycoplasma genitalium. Urethral smear for leukocytes if available. Urine dipstick to exclude UTI.
Spesimen
First-void urine; urethral swab if discharge is present
Tempoh jendela
Test as soon as symptoms appear. If exposure was within 7 days and tests negative, repeat at 1-2 weeks.
Ujian semula
Test of cure at 4 weeks if Mycoplasma genitalium was identified or if symptoms persist after treatment.
Rawatan
Barisan pertama: A short oral antibiotic course covering chlamydia and most NSU pathogens, started empirically by our medical team while awaiting laboratory results.
Alternatif: Alternative oral regimens are available where the first-line antibiotic is unsuitable. If Mycoplasma genitalium is confirmed, treatment is resistance-guided - the specific antibiotic is selected at consultation based on the macrolide-resistance result.
Pengurusan pasangan: Partners from the past 60 days should be tested for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and M. genitalium, and treated presumptively for chlamydia.
Abstain from sex for 7 days after treatment and until all partners are treated.
Susulan
- Review at 3-4 weeks - if symptoms persist, retest for M. genitalium and consider second-line therapy
- Test of cure mandatory if M. genitalium was identified
- Screen for other STIs - HIV, syphilis, hepatitis
Pencegahan
- Penggunaan kondom secara konsisten untuk hubungan seks faraj, dubur dan oral
- Elakkan berkongsi alat seks
- Pemberitahuan pasangan dan rawatan serentak
- Routine STI screening every 3-6 months if multiple partners
- Do not self-treat - empirical antibiotics without M. genitalium testing drives resistance
Vaksinasi
No vaccine exists for NSU pathogens.
Lihat juga: Mycoplasma genitalium info, Chlamydia info, Pilihan ujian JSB
Non-Specific Urethritis (NSU) - frequently asked questions
Clear answers, written by our clinical team. Tap any question for its direct permalink, or reach out to your Personal Concierge for anything else.
Both cause urethritis. Gonorrhoea is caused specifically by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and tends to produce thicker, often green/yellow discharge. NSU covers all other causes - most commonly chlamydia and Mycoplasma genitalium - with milder discharge and burning.
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Rujukan
- [1] BASHH UK. Non-specific urethritis (NSU) and non-gonococcal urethritis guideline.
- [2] Ministry of Health Malaysia. STI/HIV Sector clinical practice guidelines.
- [3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Panduan Rawatan Jangkitan Seksual Boleh Dihantar, 2021.
Keadaan JSB lain
Layari panduan JSB mendalam kami yang lain - setiap satu merangkumi gejala, statistik tanpa gejala mengikut jantina, data Malaysia, tempoh jendela ujian, rawatan dan pencegahan.
Perkhidmatan peribadi kesihatan anda
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