What You Should Know about UTIs
Dr. Leah Millheiser shares her expert insight about urinary tract infections
Whether or not you’ve had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you’ve at least heard of them. These very common infections mostly impact women and our sexual health expert, Ob/Gyn Dr. Leah, shares everything you should know about these infections in our newest sexual health Q&A below.
What is a UTI and what are the symptoms of one?
A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary tract, which includes the bladder (the most common site), urethra, ureters, and kidneys. Symptoms of a UTI affecting the bladder can include some or all of the following: burning with urination, increased frequency of urination, a sensation of not completely emptying the bladder and needing to urinate again soon after, a noticeable urinary odor, cloudiness of the urine, blood in the urine, and/or a sensation of bladder pressure. Kidney infections are a more concerning type of UTI and often present with the some or all of the symptoms listed above in addition to fever/chills, back or flank pain, and nausea/vomiting.
What causes UTIs, and do any activities, genetics or lifestyles impact the likeliness of obtaining a UTI?
There are several risk factors for the development of UTIs, including but not limited to: sexual activity, certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus), poor hygiene, bowel incontinence, use of a urinary catheter, kidney stones, and urogenital changes related to menopause.
Do men get UTIs?
UTIs are more common in women than in men. Much of this has to do with the fact that men have a longer urethra than women do, so men are less likely to develop a UTI from sexual activity. However, as men age, there are certain conditions that increase their risk of developing a UTI, including: an enlarged prostate, certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus), recent urinary tract procedure, etc.
Can women who get UTIs often do anything to help prevent them from happening?
If a woman has a history of recurrent UTIs (meaning, she gets several in a year), then she may be a candidate for UTI prevention with antibiotic therapy. I often counsel my patients that they can reduce their risk of developing a UTI related to sexual activity by urinating both immediately before and immediately after sexual activity. It is also helpful to wash the vulva and perianal region with a mild cleanser before sex to try and reduce the amount of UTI-causing bacteria present in the area. Staying hydrated and avoiding prolonged periods of time with a full bladder may also be helpful.
Can a woman’s diet impact their urinary tract health, helping to prevent infections?
There are mixed research results (meaning some positive and some negative) available on whether certain foods or supplements (e.g., cranberry supplements) can help prevent urinary tract infections.
What happens if you don’t treat a UTI?
Untreated UTIs of the lower urinary tract (bladder, urethra) can progress to the upper tract causing pyelonephritis (kidney infection). If not addressed quickly, pyelonephritis may cause kidney damage or spread to the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the infection has the potential to become life-threatening.
Can anything over the counter treat UTIs?
No. The standard of care for treating UTIs in the United States is prescription antibiotic therapy.
Some women say they can feel a UTI coming on — is that possible?
There are certainly tell-tale signs, such as pain or burning with urination, a feeling that they aren’t emptying their bladder completely, lower abdominal pressure, and/or urinating frequently.
If women do feel symptoms of a UTI — what should they do?
In the pre-Covid world, women with UTI symptoms would typically go to their healthcare provider’s office and leave a urine sample to be tested. However, with an effort to keep patients safe from Covid, many healthcare providers are treating patients who have risk factors and symptoms by phone initially. If their symptoms don’t improve over the course of a few days, then they would require further evaluation.
Consulting about a UTI via telehealth is a safe alternative — if you’d like to connect with a high quality healthcare provider regarding treatment for a UTI, visit forhers.com and start a primary care online visit.
