Most women have suffered from at least a single episode of urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. They constitute some of the common reasons for seeking out a gynecologist of family physician on an urgent basis. Urinary tract infections occur most commonly from bacteria that live on the skin near the anus or in the vagina. The bacteria may spread and enter the urinary tract from the urethra (urinary tract opening) that lies in front of the vagina. The bacteria may move up the urethra to the bladder causing an infection. If the infection spreads further up the urinary tract to the ureters and ultimately to the kidneys, the infection is called pyelonephritis.
Women with urinary tract infections may experience a variety of symptoms. Common symptoms include urinary urgency, frequent urination and/ or pain and discomfort with urination. The urine may appear cloudy or may have an odor or even some blood in it. You may also experience fever, pain or pressure in the lower abdomen, lower back or sides.
Some of the common factors that may make some women more prone to get UTI’s more frequently than others include low immunity, not drinking enough water, irritation of the vagina by rough sexual intercourse, wiping from back to the front etc. Since the opening of the urethra lies in front of the vagina, fingers or the penis may spread bacteria from the vagina. UTIs tend to occur more commonly in women who are having intercourse more often or just beginning to have intercourse. Women who have had UTIs in the past, are obese, have diabetes, are menopausal or have had several children are more prone to UTIs.
Women who experience UTIs frequently may need an evaluation by a gynecologist to zero down on the possible causes and help provide useful tips on prevention of further infections.
UTIs are diagnosed based on one’s symptoms and a urine test, which includes dipping the urine to check for leukocytes (pus cells). If the dipstick reveals pus cells, then the urine may be sent for a culture and sensitivity to the type of antibiotics. The treatment is either a 3-day or a 7-day course of antibiotic depending on the frequency and the type of UTI. If you have any other co-existing medical problems such as diabetes or other chronic conditions, you may need a longer course. Some people suffer from UTI’s every time after sexual intercourse. This may be due a short urethra or sensitive vaginal lining that may transfer the vaginal bacteria (normally harmless) to the blood stream and cause UTI. If this happens frequently, some women may need to take a single dose of an antibiotic pill after sex (Post coital prophylaxis). Most women will not need to be on this regimen lifelong if they introduce lifestyle and dietary modifications etc. These infections may be common during puberty and menopause due to certain hormonal changes happening around these periods in life cycle of a woman. An open discussion with your gynecologist can help you fix these problems in a safe manner.
Commonly recommended life style changes are drinking at least 10-15 glasses of water, avoiding very spicy irritant foods, wearing cotton underwear, showering with mild no irritant soap after going to the beach or working out at the gym and avoiding douching. Recent studies have shown that taking daily probiotics prevents recurrences of urinary infections. If you are traveling and develop symptoms of UTI, please visit a nearby walk in women’s health center to get the right diagnosis and treatment before spending time and money on the non-prescription treatments for urinary infections.