Urinary tract infections, also called UTIs, is one of the most common type of infections that a woman will likely have to endure during her lifetime. Unfortunately, the bad news is that the odds are not in your favor when it comes to UTIs. Medical statistics indicate that as many as 1 in every 2 women will suffer this common infection, UTI, at some point in their lives. And in fact, many who have contracted a urinary tract infection may even have repeated occurrences of this bothersome malady.
The good news is that UTIs are easily treated with the proper medical care and can even be prevented altogether or from recurring with some simple, proper precautionary steps.
Below you will find the UTI symptoms you should be aware of and what to look for if you think something is wrong, the probable causes of urinary tract infections, the best case scenario treatment and cure for a UTI, and lastly the simple precautions you can utilize in preventing a UTI from occurring or recurring.
What causes a urinary tract infection?
Typically a urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria entering the urethra. The tube responsible for transporting the stored urine from the bladder is known as the urethra, it is this tube which allows the body to void the stored urine in the bladder. The anus and the urethra are located very near one another. It is the close proximity of the urethra and anus that fecal contamination (bacteria) such as E Coli from the anus may give cause to enter the urethra, which typically occurs from an improper wiping technique after a bowel movement.
Another common cause of a UTI may be sex, in which bacteria on the penis invades the urethra during sexual intercourse. There are other means of contracting a urinary tract infection, but they are not typical and the source usually involve a contaminated hospital or home catheterization instrument.
Simple tips for avoiding contracting a UTI
Bacteria is the enemy, here are 5 ways to stave off UTI causing bacteria:
- Always wipe your anus from front to back.
- Always wash your genital area before sex and ask your partner to do the same before engaging in sexual intercourse.
- After sexual intercourse try to urinate, urination can help to eliminate any bacteria that may have entered the urethra during sex.
- Do not use douches or feminine hygiene sprays, as you may have heard Dr. Oz say, “The vagina is a self cleaning oven,” so let Mother Nature do the house cleaning.
- Keep your genital area dry, avoid sitting in a wet bathing suit, wearing moisture trapping panties (nylon) or tight (crotch) fitting pants or shorts as these are all examples of bacteria inducing environments.
UTI Symptoms:
- Sudden need or urgency to urinate
Frequent need to urinate with nominal void (little or nothing comes out)
- Burning sensation during urination
- Itchy or irritated vaginal opening
- Pain or a pressure feeling in the lower abdomen
- Dark, cloudy, or bloody urine
- Foul smelling urine
What you should do if you suspect you may have a UTI
If you have one or more of the above mentioned symptoms it is very important to see a physician immediately because left untreated a simple urinary tract infection can lead to further invasion and infection of more of your body’s organs such as the bladder and kidneys.
If you are unable to get an appointment with your primary care doctor right away a trip to
the ER is not necessary, but rather,
see a physician or physicians assistant at your local urgent care center. Urgent care centers can easily test, diagnose and prescribe the proper treatment for your urinary tract infection, just as well as your own primary care doctor can and will cost much, much less than a trip to the ER.
What are the tests required to diagnose a Urinary Tract Infection?
It is as simple as giving the doctor a urine sample, which is then tested for the presence of the known bacterium causing a UTI.
What is the treatment for a Urinary Tract Infection?
Treatment for a typical urinary tract infection may include; a prescription for medication to reduce any associated pain you may be experiencing, a vaginal cream to reduce any itching or irritation and/or a prescription schedule of antibiotics to kill the invading bacteria. Accompanying physician instructions include being certain not to drink alcohol while you are taking your schedule of prescription antibiotics, avoiding prolonged direct sun exposure while taking antibiotics, making sure you take the entire schedule of antibiotics regardless of whether the symptoms have disappeared already, and to drink plenty of water and fluids.
The treating physician may also include some holistic treatment instructions that might include drinking cranberry juice, taking warm showers or applying a heating pad to aid in alleviating discomfort in the abdomen or back.
What if your UTI comes back?
While most women do not get a reoccurrence of a UTI, but approximately 1 in 5 may experience a second infection. This typically happens when there was a second type of bacteria present that was not originally detected and simply requires another round of antibiotics specific to that bacterium.
However, there are scenarios in which certain strains of bacteria attack the actual cells of the body, ultimately producing a colony of bacteria that is resistant to the body’s immune system and antibiotics. This rouge colony of bacterium can navigate outside of the cell thus re-infecting the urethra with a now antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria. It is in this case scenario, when a patient experiences 3 or more UTIs during the course of a year, that your physician should refer you to a urological specialist (urologist) for evaluation and a specialized treatment plan.
Specialized treatment plan options for urinary tract infections that are not typical will depend on particular criteria; how severe and often your symptoms are occurring, or if you are in a known high risk category for UTIs.
High risk category women include pregnant women, diabetics, women with an anatomical abnormality of the urethra, or women with any diagnosis that includes the possibility of a compromised immune system. Women who are also predisposed to experience recurring UTIs include stroke victims, patients with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and women having HIV/AIDS.
If you are having more than 3 UTIs in a calendar year you should seek help from a urologist as soon as possible.
