Some diseases spread themselves out between the genders equally. When it comes to a urinary tract infection (UTI) however, women find themselves far more likely to suffer from one during their lifetime. For that matter, some women struggle with them repeatedly for most of their lives. It’s not a pleasant concept to deal with.
There is some good news however. The symptoms of a UTI can be spotted and most people who suffer from a UTI can get them treated with reasonable success. Determining the causes of a UTI can help people to avoid them in the future. Knowing the symptoms leads to quick treatment and the UTI being cleared up much quicker.
Causes of a UTI
There are a couple of ways that a person can get a urinary tract infection. UTIs occur when bacteria manages to enter the body from outside. The bacteria will travel up the urethra until it reaches the bladder and proceeds to multiply repeatedly. While the body is set up to stop bacteria from reaching the bladder, it’s not foolproof.
UTIs that start in the bladder usually start from the E.coli bacteria. Some people get a UTI when specific bacteria spreads from the anus to the urethra. These can also be caused by a variety of sexually transmitted disease.
Women have a far higher risk of getting a UTI due to simple anatomy. Their urethra is much shorter than a man’s, making it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. In addition, their urethra is much closer to the anus, thus making it easier for bacteria to reach.
Symptoms of a UTI
The downside to a UTI is that it doesn’t always show off symptoms. However, when they do, they are fairly distinctive and obvious. People should look for the following symptoms:
- Need to Urinate - This is a common symptom and people will feel a persistent urge to urinate.
- Small Amounts of Urine - People with a UTI will find they need to urinate frequently for very small amounts.
- Burning - A burning sensation is pretty common with a UTI, though it’s also a symptom of many other problems, especially sexually transmitted diseases.
- Discolored Urine - People with a UTI may find their urine changes to red, pink or darker brown. These color changes are due to small amounts of blood in the urine.
- Odd Smelling Urine - People with a UTI may produce urine with a very strong or distinct scent.
Treatment of a UTI
Treatment for a UTI will typically start with medication. The medication will be based on which type of bacteria is causing the UTI, so urine samples may be required. Regardless, a doctor will get the results and prescribe an antibiotic to work with the bacteria. Issues will usually clear up rather quickly.
Where treatment becomes trickier if they have frequent infections or really severe infections. People who have repeat long term UTI problems could receive a long term low level antibiotic program. In addition, they may be prescribed an antibiotic to be taken immediately after sexual intercourse to fight the UTI.
When fighting a UTI, it’s good to drink a lot of water and avoid any kind of drink that will mess with your bladder. This means things like alcohol or soft drinks should be cut out. Coffee should be avoided as well. People can also use a heating pad against their abdomen to reduce the pressure or swelling of their bladder if it’s uncomfortable.
