Urethral stones are stones in the tube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body. Symptoms are difficulty urinating, painful urination, spotting and infection. Most urethral stones are formed when stones from the kidneys and bladder fall into the urethra. They are more common in men because the male urethra is longer and narrower, and stones that fall from the bladder into the urethra can easily cause entrapment. Most urethral stones are located in the anterior urethra. The presence of urethral strictures, urethral diverticula and foreign bodies can also lead to urethral stones. The female urethra is shorter and wider than the male urethra, which makes it less likely to form urethral stones. The main symptoms of urethral stones are blockage in urination and difficulty in urination. Urethral stones have painful urination and the pain persists. The pain is further aggravated during urination because of the rough surface of the stones in the urethra and the stones move in the urethra during urination, stimulating the smooth muscle of the urethra to spasm. If the surface of the stone rubs against the urethral epithelium, causing the capillaries to rupture and blood to enter the urine, symptoms such as having hematuria and blood dripping from the urethra may occur. In addition, damage to the urethral epithelium also tends to be combined with symptoms of urinary tract infection, with frequent and urgent urination and the appearance of white blood cells in the urine. Urethral stones can be diagnosed based on typical symptoms and ultrasound, x-ray and cystourethroscopy.