UTI
Urinary Tract Infections consist of cystitis which is a bladder/lower urinary tract infection and pyelonephritis which is a kidney/upper urinary tract infection.
● Cause
-UTIs are due to bacteria that may enter the vaginal area.
-Women are predisposed to getting UTIs due to anatomical differences when compared to men.
-Sexual intercourse, the use of diaphragms and spermicides may predispose to UTIs
● Symptoms
cystitis
-Pain and burning with urination
-increased frequency urinating
- the sudden urge to urinate
- difficulty with starting to urinate
- pelvic pain
- blood in the urine
- in more complicated lower tract infections you may get a fever and other signs of infection
pyelonephritis
-fever
-nausea, vomiting
-chills
- flank/side/back pain
● Diagnosis
-based on a patient's symptoms
-urinary tests aid in the diagnosis if symptoms are not typical
● Treatment
-antibiotics are the treatment of choice for UTIs, the type of medication and the duration of medication will be dependent on if it is a lower or upper tract infection.
-if there is discomfort with urination your doctor may give you additional medicine to help with the discomfort.
-depending on the severity of the infection your doctor may order imaging however in most cases this is not necessary.
● Prevention
Urinating after sex
Wiping from front to back
Cleaning the vaginal area prior to the anal area
Gentle soaps without fragrance should be used for cleaning that vaginal area