A urethral caruncle (caruncula urethrae) is a benign vascular lesion located at the external urethral orifice. It is typically red to reddish-purple in color and ranges in size from a few millimeters to the size of a pea, though it can sometimes be larger. One of the typical symptoms is bleeding, which usually leads the patient to seek a gynecological or urological examination. Another common symptom is burning during urination at the urethral opening. In addition to functional difficulties, the spherical growth at the urethral opening can be concerning, as its appearance may resemble more serious conditions.

Caruncles occur predominantly in postmenopausal women. They are treated either by surgical excision or laser ablation. The laser method is time-efficient, mostly painless, and performed as an outpatient procedure without hospitalization. For smaller growths, laser ablation is the method of choice; larger lesions may require surgical removal using electroresection.

Laser ablation does not require general anesthesia, and the patient can return home immediately after the procedure. Recovery is minimal — an antibiotic ointment is typically applied to the treated area at home to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection.