Urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common in women. About 40% of women will experience a UTI at least once in their lifetime.
A UTI is the abnormal growth of bacteria anywhere along the urinary tract combined with symptoms. The most common site for these to occur is the bladder.
UTIs can go by several names, including:
- Cystitis (infection of the bladder)
- Urethritis (infection in the urethra)
- Pyelonephritis (infection of the kidneys)
Some women are at a higher risk for UTIs:
- Sexually active women
- Pregnant women
- Menopausal women – After menopause, the level of estrogen drops in a woman’s body. This results in changes to the vaginal pH as the acid/base balance is disturbed. This can change the types of bacteria that live in the vagina to those more likely to cause UTIs.
- Women with diabetes or other health conditions that decrease their body’s ability to fight infection.
Help avoid UTIs
There are steps you can take to help prevent UTIs. Speak with your doctor about:
- Using vaginal low-dose estrogen
- Taking daily cranberry tablets—cranberry juice is only helpful if consumed in large quantities: clinical trials show may take 3-6 glasses per day to provide any infection prevention.
- Taking low dose antibiotics after sex or daily for prevention
- Urinary antiseptics create an environment in the urine that bacteria don’t like. They are not antibiotics and do not contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
- Certain forms of birth control, such as spermicidal foam and diaphragms, are known to increase the risk of UTIs in women. Check with your healthcare provider about other types of birth control.
- Drinking plenty of fluids – approximately half a gallon or more per day – to keep well
- Don’t put off urinating when you need to and don’t rush to finish. Holding in urine and not draining your bladder fully can increase your risk of UTIs.
Urinary symptoms
Burning with urination and the frequent or urgent need to urinate are common symptoms of a UTI. Other symptoms include pain or pressure in the lower pelvic area, cloudy urine, or blood in the urine.
With a severe infection or if the infection involves the kidney (pyelonephritis)
Women may experience fever and chills, pain in the back, as well as nausea and vomiting. Symptoms of UTIs often become more subtle with advancing age and may include: worsening urine control, foul urine odor, mental status changes and confusion.
UTI diagnosis
Your physician will first ask about your symptoms. Then, to confirm the diagnosis, a urine test known as a urinalysis is usually done. Your urinalysis tests for components like blood, bacterial byproducts and cells that indicate infection. This test can be done quickly in the office, and then a urine culture or PCR test may be performed to determine the type of bacteria present as well as the best antibiotic to use.
UTI treatment
An uncomplicated UTI is usually treated with oral antibiotic pills. The specific antibiotic and length of treatment will depend on the type of bacteria found to be causing the infection. Bacteria are often cleared from the urine after 3 days of culture directed appropriate antibiotics. Despite this, the symptoms from the inflammation from the infection may linger 1-2 weeks even though bacteria have already been cleared.