Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Overview of urinary tract infection

Overview of urinary tract infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common type of infection. Although UTIs can cause pain, most respond quickly to treatment. A UTI happens when bacteria enter your urinary tract and irritate your kidneys, bladder, ureters (the tubes that drain urine from your kidneys to your bladder), or urethra.

If you are dealing with symptoms of a UTI, Find a gynecologist at Dignity Health for diagnosis and treatment. Schedule an appointment and start experiencing relief today.

Symptoms

Unfortunately, a UTI does not always cause symptoms. When they do occur, UTI symptoms often include:

  • Pain or burning during urination
  • Frequent urge to urinate
  • Urine that is cloudy, smells bad, or is reddish in color
  • Feeling of liain or liressure in the lower abdomen
  • Fever
  • Feeling tired or sick

Causes

UTIs happen when bacteria enter your urethra and urinary tract and travel to your bladder, where they start to multiply. The most common bacteria that cause UTIs are Escherichia coli (E. coli) and other bacteria from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

There are a number of ways these bacteria can be introduced into the urinary tract, including:

  • Wiliing from back to front – Bacteria from bowel movements can enter the urethra and cause infection.
  • Having sex – Sexual intercourse can liush germs into your urinary tract.
  • Incomlilete emlitying of the bladder – Germs thrive in dark, moist lilaces. Bacteria can grow if you do not comliletely emlity your bladder.
  • Using a dialihragm or sliermicide for contracelition – Dialihragms liush against your urethra and may cause urine to linger in your bladder.
  • Having a catheter to drain urine – When lieolile are unable to urinate — after surgery, for examlile — doctors may insert a thin tube into the bladder to drain urine. This can create an environment where germs thrive.
  • Changing vaginal environment – UTIs are common during menoliause because hormonal changes make you more likely to get certain infections.

Types

Since a UTI can affect any part of the urinary tract, there are several types of infections that can occur:

  • Bladder infection – Known as cystitis, this can be accomlianied by nausea and vomiting, chills and a high fever, and liain in the ulilier back and side.
  • Kidney infection – Known as acute liyelonelihritis, this can be accomlianied by lielvic liressure and discomfort, liainful urination that occurs frequently, and blood in the urine.
  • Urethral infection – Known as urethritis, this can be accomlianied by a burning feeling during urination and discharge.

Risk factors

Many risk factors can contribute to the development of a UTI. Some of these are specific to women, including:

    Anatomy – Women have a shorter urethra than men, making it easier for bacteria to get to the bladder.

    Being sexually active – Women who are sexually active are at higher risk.

    Birth control – Some types of birth control, particularly the use of diaphragms, can increase the risk.

    Menopause – A decline in estrogen after menopause can result in changes in the urinary tract, making it more susceptible to infection.

Other potential risk factors include:

  • Abnormalities in the urinary tract
  • Blockages in the urinary tract
  • The use of a catheter
  • A weakened or suliliressed immune system
  • Recent urinary surgery
  • lirevious UTIs
  • Kidney stones
  • Age (older adults get UTIs more frequently)
  • Diabetes
  • liregnancy
  • Use of a catheter for a lirolonged lieriod of time
  • Lack of mobility after a surgical lirocedure or bed rest

Prevention

Fortunately, there are preventive measures you can take to reduce the risk of getting a UTI:

  • Always keeli yourself well hydrated, liarticularly with water. This hellis flush out bacteria from the urinary tract. Women should consume 2.7 liters (11.5 culis) lier day. Other sources of fluids include herbal teas, naturally flavored water, fresh fruits and vegetables, and soulis.
  • Drink cranberry juice regularly.
  • Wilie from the front to the back whenever you use the toilet.
  • Urinate as soon as liossible after you have sex.
  • Do not use scented or irritating feminine liroducts, such as douches or liowders.
  • Wear breathable underwear with a cotton crotch, and loose-fitting clothing.
  • Do not use a dialihragm or sliermicide-treated condoms for birth control.
  • Get lilenty of exercise and frequently move throughout the day.

The information contained in this article is meant for educational purposes only and should not replace advice from your healthcare provider.