Do you constantly feel like you need to go to the bathroom? Are you suffering from any back or pelvic pain? Then, you may be experiencing a urinary tract infection.
Typically, our urinary tract is very healthy due to the one-way flow of the bloodstream depositing waste into our bladder. However, infections can stem from the bottom up with bacteria traveling through the urethra. This is what causes a urinary tract infection or UTI.
Diagnosis
A UTI is diagnosed as either simple or complicated, with most simple cases being found in women and most complicated cases being in men and children. The biggest difference between complicated or simple UTIs is the length to which the antibiotics are given out.
A urologist can assist in helping identify a UTI by examining a urine sample for bacteria or white blood cells. A UTI may also cause blood in the urine, but it might be a sign of something bigger.
Contact your urologist immediately if you notice blood in your urine. If you are pregnant and suspect a UTI, see a doctor right away.
Symptoms
As previously mentioned, the need to go to the restroom often can be a sign of a UTI, as well as any back or pelvic pain. Some other symptoms include:
- Only relieving small amounts of urine
- Cloudy urine
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea
- Burning urination
- Fever
Some symptoms help identify which part of the urinary tract is infected. Any nausea, vomiting, or fevers come from your kidneys, while pelvic pressure or blood is from the bladder.
If it burns during your bathroom break, that is a sign of the urethra being infected.
Causes
If you are struggling with the symptoms of a UTI then you probably want to know what caused it. Some causes are simply due to anatomy.
The woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s and it can shorten the distance bacteria travels. This is why it is important for women to wipe front to back so bacteria from the anus and vagina do not enter the urethra.
Some other causes are from sexual activity, especially when there are multiple partners involved, menopause, and certain types of birth control. Specifically, it has been found that women who use diaphragms, spermicidal agents, and unlubed condoms are more at risk of developing a UTI.
If you have a suppressed immune system as a result of diabetes or other diseases that impair the immune system, you are also more likely to contract a UTI. Kidney stones, enlarged prostate, and catheter use can all be causes as well.
Prevention
Once you know what caused the UTI, you’ll want to avoid doing it again in the future. In most cases, a UTI is a one-time ordeal. However, that isn’t always the case.
To prevent UTI’s, reconsider your birth control methods, drink plenty of water and cranberry juice, and don’t postpone a trip to the bathroom–especially after sex.
Feel Relieved
If you’ve had a UTI, you have probably grown accustomed to the feeling of needing to use the bathroom often. With the help of a urologist, like those at Idaho Urology, you can feel relieved of that pressure and begin to feel better.
Start on the road of relief by finding a urologist near you! A urologist can also help you if you have kidney stones. Here are some of the causes and solutions to kidney stones.
