Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and How to Get Rid of Them
It starts with a burning sensation while peeing and before you know it, you are sensing an urge to pee every few minutes. UTI’s are never fun.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections in humans; and women and people with vaginas are at greater risk of developing a UTI. They are mainly caused by bacteria; however, some are caused by fungi and in rare cases by viruses.
What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
A UTI is an infection that affects any part of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria, though fungi and viruses can occasionally be the culprits.
The most common type of urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bladder infection, also known as cystitis. This type of UTI occurs when bacteria, typically Escherichia coli (E. coli), enter the urethra and travel up into the bladder. While E. coli is naturally found in the intestines and is generally harmless, its presence in the urinary system can lead to an infection.
Your urinary tract is made up of your: kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra. Most UTIs only involve the urethra and bladder, in the lower tract. In rare and more severe cases, the infection can reach the upper tract and involve the ureters and kidneys.
3 – 5 % of all women experience multiple episodes of bladder infections over a specified period, called recurrent cystitis.
Common Symptoms of UTIs
Urinary tract infections don’t always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do, it is important to be able to distinguish between a lower or upper tract infection.
Lower tract UTI symptoms
Lower tract UTIs affect the urethra and bladder. Symptoms of a lower tract UTI include:
Βurning with urination
Ιncreased frequency of urination without passing much urine
Ιncreased urgency of urination
Βloody urine
Cloudy urine
Urine that has a strong odor
Pelvic pain in people with a female reproductive system
Rectal pain in people with a male reproductive system
Upper tract UTI symptoms
Upper tract UTI symptoms
Upper tract UTIs affect the kidneys. These can be potentially life threatening if bacteria move from the infected kidney into the blood. This condition, called urosepsis, can cause dangerously low blood pressure, shock, and death.
Symptoms of an upper tract UTI include:
Pain and tenderness in the upper back and sides
Chills
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Each type of UTI may result in more-specific signs and symptoms, depending on which part of your urinary tract is infected.
Part of urinary tract affected Symptoms
Kidneys (acute pyelonephritis) Back pain or side (flank) pain, high fever, shaking and chills, nausea, vomiting
Bladder (cystitis) Pelvic pressure, lower abdomen discomfort, frequent and painful urination, blood in urine
Urethra (urethritis) Burning with urination, discharge
UTI risk factors
The vast majority of UTIs are caused by the bacterium E. coli, usually found in the digestive system. UTIs are more common in females due to the shorter length of the urethra, which allows bacteria easier access to the bladder. Factors that increase the risk of UTIs include:
Age (Older adults are more likely to get UTIs.)
Reduced mobility after surgery or prolonged bed rest
Kidney stones
A previous UTI
Urinary tract obstructions or blockages, such as: enlarged prostate, kidney stones, certain forms of cancer
Prolonged use of urinary catheters, which may make it easier for bacteria to get into your bladder
Diabetes
Pregnancy
Abnormally developed urinary structures from birth
Weakened immune system
Risk factors specific to women and people with vaginas include:
Shorter urethra
In female bodies, the urethra is very close to both the vagina and the anus. This increases the likelihood of developing UTIs. Bacteria that may naturally occur around both the vagina and anus can lead to infection in the urethra and the rest of the urinary tract. Urethras in women are also shorter, and the bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to enter the bladder.
Sex
Pressure on the female urinary tract during penetrative sex can move bacteria from around the anus into the bladder. Oral sex can also introduce bacteria into the urethra, increasing the risk of infection. Peeing after sex may help reduce the risk of infection.
Spermicides
Spermicides are a kind of birth control that has chemicals that stop sperm from reaching an egg. You put it in your vagina before sex to prevent pregnancy. This can increase UTI risk, because they can disrupt the vaginal microbiome.
Condom use during sex
Non-lubricated latex condoms may increase friction and irritate the skin during sexual intercourse. This may increase the risk of a UTI. However, there are many reasons to use condoms. They’re important for reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and preventing unwanted pregnancy. To help prevent friction and skin irritation from condoms, be sure to use enough water-based lubricant during sex. Avoid using condoms that have been coated with spermicide.
Decrease in estrogen levels
After menopause, a decrease in estrogen level changes the normal bacteria in your vagina. This can increase the risk for a UTI.
Urinalysis as a Way to Diagnose UTIs
If you suspect that you have a UTI, you will need to have a lab test of a sample of your urine; this test is called urinalysis.
The Urinalysis Home Test from omgyno is the Go-to-Product when you experience symptoms like burning while peeing or feeling the urge to pee more frequently.
At omgyno you can order a home test and take your own sample to be sent to the lab and diagnosed. You can find the vaginal culture and urinalysis test to identify the cause of any infection you may have as well as the type of antibiotics that will work in your body in case you have a UTI.
It’s a combination of three tests: a urine analysis (sampled with urine) that determines urinary tract infections, an antibiogram to check the body’s resistance to certain antibiotics (in the case of bacterial infection) and a vaginal smear culture to check if the infection has spread from your urinary tract to your vagina.
If your test comes back positive, you can book an online zoom session with a certified Doctor over our telemedicine service. Remember, always consult with a medical professional if you suspect you have an infection. They can provide guidance tailored to your specific situation. Most UTIs are treated with antibiotics, which are typically effective in clearing the infection.
When is the best time to collect?
It is not necessary to take your sample first thing in the morning but if possible, collect the sample when urine has been in your bladder for 2 to 3 hours.
To ensure accurate lab results it is best to follow these steps carefully to prevent germs from the vagina from getting into urine sample.
Let’s start!
Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
Wash your vulva, especially between the labia, also with warm water and soap.
Sit on the toilet with your legs spread apart.
Use two fingers to spread open your labia (vaginal lips).
Keeping your labia spread open, urinate a small amount into the toilet, then stop the flow of urine.
Hold the urine cup a few centimeters from your urethra and urinate until the cup is about half full.
Finish urinating into the toilet bowl.Please take your urine sample after you have booked your pickup with the courier. The sample should reach the lab within 24 hours, so it is best to take your sample the same day as the courier pickup.
The urinalysis lab results will give you a detailed overview of your urine which will indicate if you have a urinary tract infection.
Urinanalysis: What happens after I send my sample in?
You will be informed about the physical characteristics of your urine like color, pH, specific gravity, and reducing substances. You will also be informed about which chemical characteristics (Protein,Glucose, Ketones…) exist.
Through the microscopic examination you will be able to know the amount of white blood cells, red blood cells, epithelial cells, mucus, casts, crystals, amorphous sediment and microorganisms.
The urine culture will show if you have any of the following infections: Candida Albicans, E. coli, Proteus Mirabilis, Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.
Through the antibiogram you will learn about the resistance of bacteria to certain antibiotics. This test is done when infection has been detected in the aerobic culture. The results can be: Sensitive: Your body is sensitive to the following antibiotics. These medications can eliminate the infection. Semi Sensitive: Your body is semi sensitive to the following antibiotics. These medications might or might not eliminate the infection. Resistant: Your body is resistant to the following antibiotics. These medications cannot eliminate the infection.
Prevention and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections
You can take these steps to reduce your risk of urinary tract infections:
Drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Drinking water helps dilute your urine and ensures that you’ll urinate more frequently — allowing bacteria to be flushed from your urinary tract before an infection can begin.
Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urinating and after a bowel movement helps prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
Empty your bladder soon after intercourse. Also, drink a full glass of water to help flush bacteria.
Avoid potentially irritating feminine products. Using deodorant sprays or other feminine products, such as douches and powders, in the genital area can irritate the urethra.
Change your birth control method. Diaphragms, or unlubricated or spermicide-treated condoms, can all contribute to bacterial growth.
If you experience UTI symptoms, do not neglect them as they may lead to a more severe infection. Take the vaginal culture and urinalysis test and you will receive your results within 3-5 days via email.
If your results are positive and you do have a UTI, you may book a telehealth session with one of our gynecologists in order to get a medical consultation and an antibiotics prescription for treatment.
Note: references to “male” and “female” or “women” and “men” in this article refer to sex assigned at birth, not gender.
It starts with a burning sensation while peeing and before you know it, you are sensing an urge to pee every few minutes. UTI’s are never fun.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections in humans; and women and people with vaginas are at greater risk of developing a UTI. They are mainly caused by bacteria; however, some are caused by fungi and in rare cases by viruses.
What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
A UTI is an infection that affects any part of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria, though fungi and viruses can occasionally be the culprits.
The most common type of urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bladder infection, also known as cystitis. This type of UTI occurs when bacteria, typically Escherichia coli (E. coli), enter the urethra and travel up into the bladder. While E. coli is naturally found in the intestines and is generally harmless, its presence in the urinary system can lead to an infection.
Your urinary tract is made up of your: kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra. Most UTIs only involve the urethra and bladder, in the lower tract. In rare and more severe cases, the infection can reach the upper tract and involve the ureters and kidneys.
3 – 5 % of all women experience multiple episodes of bladder infections over a specified period, called recurrent cystitis.
Common Symptoms of UTIs
Urinary tract infections don’t always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do, it is important to be able to distinguish between a lower or upper tract infection.
Lower tract UTI symptoms
Lower tract UTIs affect the urethra and bladder. Symptoms of a lower tract UTI include:
Upper tract UTI symptoms
Upper tract UTIs affect the kidneys. These can be potentially life threatening if bacteria move from the infected kidney into the blood. This condition, called urosepsis, can cause dangerously low blood pressure, shock, and death.
Symptoms of an upper tract UTI include:
Each type of UTI may result in more-specific signs and symptoms, depending on which part of your urinary tract is infected.
Part of urinary tract affected Symptoms
Kidneys (acute pyelonephritis) Back pain or side (flank) pain, high fever, shaking and chills, nausea, vomiting
Bladder (cystitis) Pelvic pressure, lower abdomen discomfort, frequent and painful urination, blood in urine
Urethra (urethritis) Burning with urination, discharge
UTI risk factors
The vast majority of UTIs are caused by the bacterium E. coli, usually found in the digestive system. UTIs are more common in females due to the shorter length of the urethra, which allows bacteria easier access to the bladder. Factors that increase the risk of UTIs include:
Risk factors specific to women and people with vaginas include:
Shorter urethra
In female bodies, the urethra is very close to both the vagina and the anus. This increases the likelihood of developing UTIs. Bacteria that may naturally occur around both the vagina and anus can lead to infection in the urethra and the rest of the urinary tract. Urethras in women are also shorter, and the bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to enter the bladder.
Sex
Pressure on the female urinary tract during penetrative sex can move bacteria from around the anus into the bladder. Oral sex can also introduce bacteria into the urethra, increasing the risk of infection. Peeing after sex may help reduce the risk of infection.
Spermicides
Spermicides are a kind of birth control that has chemicals that stop sperm from reaching an egg. You put it in your vagina before sex to prevent pregnancy. This can increase UTI risk, because they can disrupt the vaginal microbiome.
Condom use during sex
Non-lubricated latex condoms may increase friction and irritate the skin during sexual intercourse. This may increase the risk of a UTI. However, there are many reasons to use condoms. They’re important for reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and preventing unwanted pregnancy. To help prevent friction and skin irritation from condoms, be sure to use enough water-based lubricant during sex. Avoid using condoms that have been coated with spermicide.
Decrease in estrogen levels
After menopause, a decrease in estrogen level changes the normal bacteria in your vagina. This can increase the risk for a UTI.
Urinalysis as a Way to Diagnose UTIs
If you suspect that you have a UTI, you will need to have a lab test of a sample of your urine; this test is called urinalysis.
The Urinalysis Home Test from omgyno is the Go-to-Product when you experience symptoms like burning while peeing or feeling the urge to pee more frequently.
At omgyno you can order a home test and take your own sample to be sent to the lab and diagnosed. You can find the vaginal culture and urinalysis test to identify the cause of any infection you may have as well as the type of antibiotics that will work in your body in case you have a UTI.
It’s a combination of three tests: a urine analysis (sampled with urine) that determines urinary tract infections, an antibiogram to check the body’s resistance to certain antibiotics (in the case of bacterial infection) and a vaginal smear culture to check if the infection has spread from your urinary tract to your vagina.
If your test comes back positive, you can book an online zoom session with a certified Doctor over our telemedicine service. Remember, always consult with a medical professional if you suspect you have an infection. They can provide guidance tailored to your specific situation. Most UTIs are treated with antibiotics, which are typically effective in clearing the infection.
When is the best time to collect?
It is not necessary to take your sample first thing in the morning but if possible, collect the sample when urine has been in your bladder for 2 to 3 hours.
To ensure accurate lab results it is best to follow these steps carefully to prevent germs from the vagina from getting into urine sample.
Let’s start!
The urinalysis lab results will give you a detailed overview of your urine which will indicate if you have a urinary tract infection.
Urinanalysis: What happens after I send my sample in?
You will be informed about the physical characteristics of your urine like color, pH, specific gravity, and reducing substances. You will also be informed about which chemical characteristics (Protein,Glucose, Ketones…) exist.
Through the microscopic examination you will be able to know the amount of white blood cells, red blood cells, epithelial cells, mucus, casts, crystals, amorphous sediment and microorganisms.
The urine culture will show if you have any of the following infections: Candida Albicans, E. coli, Proteus Mirabilis, Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.
Through the antibiogram you will learn about the resistance of bacteria to certain antibiotics. This test is done when infection has been detected in the aerobic culture. The results can be:
Sensitive: Your body is sensitive to the following antibiotics. These medications can eliminate the infection.
Semi Sensitive: Your body is semi sensitive to the following antibiotics. These medications might or might not eliminate the infection.
Resistant: Your body is resistant to the following antibiotics. These medications cannot eliminate the infection.
Prevention and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections
You can take these steps to reduce your risk of urinary tract infections:
If you experience UTI symptoms, do not neglect them as they may lead to a more severe infection. Take the vaginal culture and urinalysis test and you will receive your results within 3-5 days via email.
If your results are positive and you do have a UTI, you may book a telehealth session with one of our gynecologists in order to get a medical consultation and an antibiotics prescription for treatment.
Note: references to “male” and “female” or “women” and “men” in this article refer to sex assigned at birth, not gender.
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