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About Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Causes, symptoms, and treatment methods
for UTIs.
Urinary
tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common infection among
women, behind colds and flu. And for many women, they're as painful
as they are prevalent. For some women, it's worse than having a cavity
filled, says Kristine E. Whitmore, MD, clinical associate professor
of urology at Medical College of Pennsylvania-Hahnemann in Philadelphia.
Unfortunately, the pain isn't the worst part--if you're pregnant,
UTIs are potentially dangerous to you and your baby. Here's the scoop
on what causes them, what they feel like, and how to prevent them.
Causes and Symptoms
If you've ever
had a UTI, you're all too familiar with the symptoms. You need to
go to the bathroom every 30 minutes to an hour. Often nothing comes
out. And when you do go, it hurts or burns. You may even have back
pain or bloody urine.
So what causes
all of this? Ninety percent of the time, it's Escherichia coli (E.
coli), a bacterium found around the anal area, that becomes trapped
in the bladder. One of the easiest routes is via toilet paper; if
you wipe back to front, the germ can make its way up your urethra,
the tube that connects the bladder to the outside world. Female biology
makes it even easier--women have a short urethra (it's 4 centimeters
long, while the average man's is 12)--so it takes the bacteria little
time to get to the bladder.
There are a number
of other ways to get infected. Not drinking enough fluids results
in infrequent urination, and urinating is an effective way of clearing
germs from the bladder and urethra. And diabetics or people with urinary
tract abnormalities are more at risk. But chances are, if you've had
a UTI, you got it from sex. Bacteria from the colon and vagina can
get into the urethra during foreplay and intercourse, Dr. Whitmore
says. Vigorous sex can cause the bladder to become inflamed, so bacteria
stick to its lining. The end result of all that sex--pregnancy and
childbirth--can leave you more susceptible to UTIs, too. The enlarged
uterus and increase in the hormone progesterone prevent the bladder
from emptying completely, explains Kevin Ault, MD, assistant professor
of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Iowa. As a result,
there's a pool of urine left in the bladder, in which bacteria can
flourish. And the more time you spend pushing the baby out, the longer
the baby's head presses against the bladder, brushing it and making
it hospitable to bacteria.
Testing
and Treatment
It's wise to visit your doctor the moment the first symptom strikes.
If left untreated, a UTI could develop into a kidney infection, whether
you're pregnant or not. Kidney infections can lead to a blood infection,
which is potentially life threatening, cautions Dr. Whitmore. For
an accurate diagnosis, you need to have a urine culture, which will
determine the presence of bacteria.
If you have a
UTI, your doctor will prescribe safe antibiotics to cure the infection.
If the meantime, drink plenty of water to help flush out the bacteria.
To get rid of UTI pain, you may want to pick up some pyridium pills,
such as Uristat, at the drugstore. Of course, if you're pregnant,
talk to your doctor before taking any medications, over-the-counter
or otherwise.
Recurrent UTIs--more
than two in six months--warrant a consultation with a urologist and
a thorough urological workup, Dr. Whitmore says. An ultrasound of
the kidney and telescopic examination of the bladder can determine
whether the UTI is being caused by another medical problem, such as
a kidney stone. If bacteria are the reason for your recurrent UTIs,
your doctor can write you a renewable antibiotic prescription that
you can fill at the first sign of infection.
UTIs
During Pregnancy
Ten percent of expectant moms will get a UTI at some point during
pregnancy. However, these infections sometimes go untreated because
women don't recognize the symptoms, or there are none; 2 to 7 percent
of UTIs among pregnant women are asymptomatic. And therein lies a
serious problem: If an expectant mother doesn't know she has a UTI,
she won't seek treatment. If left untreated, about 30 to 40 percent
of asymptomatic UTIs develop into a kidney infection in the third
trimester, putting a woman at risk for preterm labor and a low birth
weight baby.
There's no need
to panic; most ob-gyns test a woman's urine on her first prenatal
visit, to screen for asymptomatic bacteria and to determine whether
she has any risk factors that indicate she'll need regular urine cultures
for asymptomatic UTIs, such as diabetes.
Prevention
Methods
You can prevent feeling the burn time and time again. Here are seven
things you can do:
1. Practice good
hygiene. When cleaning the anal area, always wipe from front to back.
2. Avoid dehydration.
Drink eight glasses of water a day to flush bacteria out of your system.
3. Empty your
bladder frequently. Holding it gives bacteria time to grow.
4. Watch your
diet. Caffeine, alcohol, cheese, and chocolate are a few of the substances
that can irritate the bladder.
5. Drink cranberry
juice or take a cranberry pill. Cranberries can prevent E. coli from
adhering to the bladder.
6. Urinate before
and after sex. This will help eliminate genital bacteria.
7. Talk to your
doctor about your birth control method. Diaphragm users are more likely
to get UTIs because the rim can cause trauma to the urethra.
Chances are,
these methods will help prevent this small and easily remedied part
of womanhood.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
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