Dealing with Urinary Tract Infections: Before, During and After

It’s estimated that around 50–60% of women will develop a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) at leat once in their lifetimes. A UTI is a common infection that occurs in the lower urinary tract –the bladder and urethra and is usually a source of pain and frustration for many women. Particularly when the UTI repeatedly occurs. So it’s important to recognize the symptoms of a UTI while also knowing what steps you can take to help prevent them.

Risk factors for getting a Urinary Tract Infection

Although common, urinary tract infections are not inevitable. Good hygiene, drinking plenty of water and avoiding vaginal douching are just a few tips to help keep them at bay. However, some risk factors are known to increase the chances of developing a UTI. These include:

Sexual activity – sexually active women tend to have more UTIs than women who are not sexually active.
Having a new sexual partner – this increases the risk of developing a UTI.
Certain types of birth control – the use of diaphragms for birth control may increase the risk of a UTI.
Menopause -after menopause, the decline in estrogen causes changes in the urinary tract that make you more vulnerable to infection.

Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections do not always cause signs or symptoms. When they do, these will appear as:

A strong, persistent urge to urinate
A burning sensation when urinating
Urine that appears cloudy in colour
Strong-smelling urine
Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colour — a sign of blood in the urine

Diagnosing a Urinary Tract Infection

If you’ve notice any of the symptoms above it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible. Left untreated a urinary tract infection can spread up towards the kidneys and lead to more serious complications.

Diagnosing a UTI is usually done with a quick urine sample or based on your medical symptoms alone. In a small number of cases a scan of the bladder or urinary tract may be needed to rule out other problems.

Treating a Urinary Tract Infection

Most urinary tract infections can be treated with a two to three day course of antibiotics.

Your doctor may also speak to you about any previous UTI’s, possible further testing and steps you can take to help prevent them from recurring.

Tips to help prevent a Urinary Tract Infection

Drink plenty of water – This is one of the simplest but most effective things you can do. Drinking water helps to dilute the urine and move things quickly through the urinary tract.
Wipe from front to back – Do so after urinating and after a bowel movement. This helps prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
Empty your bladder soon after intercourse.
Drink cranberry juice – this is commonly suggested as a trick to help treat or prevent UTI’s. While there is no solid scientific evidence to back this up, any extra fluids that you consume is always helpful

UTI’s are a common medical condition that thousands of women deal with on a daily basis. While they’re relatively easy to treat, it’s important to speak to your doctor if you spot any of the symptoms.

Lastly, be sure to follow some of the tips above to help stop UTI’s before they start.