Find out how to prevent a UTI and get your health back on track. Learn more about the female anatomy and uncover the common factors that can put you at risk of a UTI. Educate yourself more about this condition and improve your life quality or help out a friend. This article outlines some of the most widespread urinary tract infection symptoms, the causes, and the possible treatment methods. If you have any further questions or concerns related to your health and well-being, consult with a professional such as Dr. White-Videa. Choosing a reliable healthcare specialist will ensure you reach the desired health goals quicker and more efficiently.
How to prevent a UTI? What does the term refer to? Keep reading to find out.
What is a UTI?
Before explaining the common symptoms, causes, and prevention methods, it is helpful to explain what “UTI” means. A UTI or a urinary tract infection is a common condition affecting any part of your urinary system. For instance, this includes the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. However, most UTIs involve your lower urinary tract, which consists of the urethra and the bladder.
Overall, women have higher chances of developing urinary tract infections than men. If a UTI is limited to the patient’s bladder, it can often be annoying, painful, and debilitating. Sometimes, the patient may risk developing more severe health issues. For instance, the urinary tract infection may spread to the person’s kidneys.
The general treatment for a UTI involves antibiotics. To prevent the need for treatment, experts recommend implementing some preventative steps to ensure that the chances of getting a urinary tract infection are minimal to none. Make sure to stay regular with your doctor’s checkups. If you are looking for the best experts in the area, consult with a gynecologist in Coral Springs, Florida. You can get an expert diagnosis and faster results by talking to a professional. Moreover, the urinary tract infection symptoms will be addressed and treated on time before anything more serious can develop.
Common Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms
You might have a UTI without knowing about it. That’s because urinary tract infection symptoms don’t always cause discomfort. Sometimes you can have an infection without symptoms. Nevertheless, here are some of the most common signs you may be dealing with a urinary tract infection:
- Burning sensation when urinating
- A strong urge to urinate (the urge does not go away)
- Cloudy or unusual urine
- Having to urinate frequently and passing tiny amounts of urine
- Bright pink or red urine (it is a sign that there is blood in your urine)
- Strong-smelling urine
- In females, pelvic pain (especially in the central part of the pelvis)
Anyone can have a urinary tract infection, regardless of age or gender. When it comes to older adults, a urinary tract infection can be mistaken for another health condition or even overlooked.
If you are experiencing any of these urinary tract infection symptoms, reach out to your healthcare professional immediately. Do not wait for the symptoms to go away on their own – often, the symptoms could get worse, and the condition may spread to the kidneys. Also, keep in mind that not everyone experiences signs and symptoms. So, we recommend staying on track with doctor’s checkups.
Different Urinary Tract Infection Types
Each UTI type can cause different signs and symptoms. Here is an overview of urinary tract infections and their most common signs.
- When the kidneys are affected: Nausea, high fever, side or back pain, chills and shaking, vomiting.
- When the bladder is affected: Lower stomach discomfort, bloody urine, pressure in the pelvis, painful and frequent urination.
- When the urethra is affected: Discharge, burning sensation when urinating.
What Causes a UTI?
A urinary tract infection usually happens when bacteria enter your urinary tract via the urethra. A problem arises when bacteria spread in your bladder. Usually, the urinary system keeps out bacteria, but this is not always the case. The bacteria spread in the patient’s bladder can lead to a severe urinary tract infection. Women are at the highest risk of getting a urinary tract infection. The infection usually involves the urethra and the bladder.
Here are some of the most common causes of a UTI:
- When the urethra is infected: This UTI type happens when GI bacteria spread to the urethra from the anus. Often, the cause for a urethra infection involves STIs or sexually transmitted infections. For instance, some STIs that are common causes of a UTI involve gonorrhea, mycoplasma, herpes, and chlamydia. Because the female urethra is close to the vagina, this is likely to happen.
- When the bladder is infected: Escherichia coli (or E. coli) is the most common cause of this UTI type. For reference, this bacteria type is often located in the GI or gastrointestinal tract. However, this is not always the cause of a bladder infection. In some cases, sexual intercourse can be one of the most common causes of a UTI. That said, patients do not have to be active sexually to get a bladder infection.
Every woman is at risk of getting a bladder infection for anatomical reasons. In female patients, the urethra is in close proximity to the anus. Likewise, the opening to the urethra is near the bladder. Because of this, bacteria around the patient’s anus can reach the urethra and end up in the bladder.
How to Prevent a UTI?
The good news is that there are a few effective ways to prevent a urinary tract infection. How to prevent a UTI? Here are some practical ways you can consider today:
- Drink cranberry juice: According to some studies, cranberry juice can potentially benefit UTI prevention. However, the results are not final and more research is required to determine its efficacy. That said, drinking pure cranberry juice is likely beneficial.
- Consume a lot of water: Keeping yourself hydrated is essential when learning how to prevent a UTI. Drinking water dilutes your urine, which means you will use the bathroom often. Hence, the bacteria will be flushed from your urinary tract before you can get an infection.
- Urinating after sexual intercourse: This is an effective prevention method to flush out harmful bacteria.
- Always wipe from the front to the back: Keep this in mind after bowel movements and urinating.
- Consider a different method of birth control: Some birth control options, like unlubricated condoms and diaphragms, can lead to the overgrowth of bacteria.
- Refrain from using harsh feminine hygiene products: Never use douches, harsh deodorants, and sprays in your genital area. These can cause irritation and infection.
Complications Associated with an Untreated Urinary Tract Infection
If you fail to get treated early, you may experience some of the following complications:
- Kidney damage.
- Recurrent infections.
- Premature delivery or delivering an infant of low birth weight.
- Sepsis.
- Men may have to deal with a narrowed urethra.
When Should I Reach Out for Help?
If you are experiencing any of the mentioned symptoms of the condition, reach out to a healthcare provider immediately. Give us a call today to get started. Book a schedule with our team of professionals at the best clinic in the area. Take care of your health, and let us help you.