Urinary Tract Infections: TMI on UTIs
If you’ve ever felt more than a sprinkle during your tinkle you may have had a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Feelings of burning (not the good kind from pumping iron at the gym), deep pain, and a constant urge to go are all symptoms of a possible urinary tract infection. Before you hit the grocery store and drive up the price of cranberry juice stock, learn about what causes infections, what to look for and warning signs to keep you from ending up extremely sick.
According to recent data, about half of all women will have a UTI in their lifetime. Women are more prone to getting urinary infections because anatomically they have a shorter urethra (the part of the urinary tract that connects the bladder to the outside) than men, which makes it easier for bacteria to gain access to the structures of the lower urinary tract. Other risk factors that predispose women to urinary tract infections include more frequent intercourse, a new sexual partner, taking antibiotics, pregnancy, diabetes, and using contraception devices like diaphragms.
What symptoms should you look out for? Common urinary tract infection symptoms include needing to use the bathroom frequently with only small amounts of urine coming out (frequency), feeling a need to use the bathroom suddenly, despite recently using the restroom (urgency), abdominal pain or pain right above your pelvis or bladder, lower back pain, chills, and nausea.
It’s important to distinguish an uncomplicated urinary infection from a complicated one. Uncomplicated UTIs are seen in healthy women who are not pregnant, and do not have other medical problems such as Diabetes, or HIV. Complicated UTIs are infections that may be ascending the urinary tract or involve more resistant bugs. This can be extremely dangerous as infections can continue to travel up the urinary tract and affect the bladder and kidneys causing severe fever, widespread infection in the blood, severe dehydration, and even shock. It’s important to also know that any urinary symptoms in pregnancy should ALWAYS be brought up with your doctor. Several studies have shown that untreated urinary tract infections in pregnancy can increase your risk of preterm labor. UTI’s can also become complicated if simple or uncomplicated infections remain untreated for a prolonged period of time. A woman can also develop a complicated UTI if she has had an infection within the last three months with the same bacteria.
A few ways to avoid urinary tract infections are to drink plenty of water throughout the day. This is not only good for your urinary tract but your whole body. Getting plenty of fluids can keep bacteria from proliferating throughout the urinary tract. It’s also important to void after intercourse. Although sleep often beats post coital voiding, failure to urinate after intercourse is one of the most common causes of UTIs in women. Also avoid holding your urine in for lengthy periods of time by emptying your bladder as soon as you feel the need to go.
UTIs can be easily diagnosed and treated, so if you begin to feel symptoms get in touch with your physician ASAP. Early detection and treatment can avoid serious complications!