Published on: 30th September 2022
Medically reviewed by: General Practitioner at First Response Healthcare
What Are The Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections?
- Experiencing pain in the side (flank), abdomen, or pelvic area.
- Feeling pressure in the lower pelvis.
- Feeling the need to urinate frequently, or having an urgent need to urinate
- Incontinence or urine leakage
- Pain during urination or seeing blood in urine
- Having abnormal urine color or a strong, foul-smelling urine.
- Experiencing pain during sex
- Pain in the penis
- Pain in the flank (side of the body) or having lower back pain
- Fatigue
- Fever and chills
- Vomiting
- Experiencing mental changes or confusion
If you experience these symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor. If you get urinary tract infections, you might need to undertake a few tests to find out if diabetes or an abnormal urinary system is the cause of frequent infections.
How Are Urinary Tract Infections Treated?
What Causes UTIs?
Following are some risk factors that could cause UTIs in women:
- The Female anatomy – Given that women have a shorter urethra than men do, it’s easier for bacteria from the anus to reach the bladder because of less distance.
- Sexual activity – Being sexually active or having a new sexual partner also increases the risk of getting a urinary tract infection.
- Certain types of birth control – Using birth control devices such as diaphragms and spermicidal agents can also be one of the causes of UTI.
- Menopause – After menopause, there is a decline in the circulating estrogen, which can cause changes in the urinary tract and can be one of the UTI causes.
Some other risk factors for UTIs that are not specific to women include
- Urinary tract problems – This is when babies are born with problems in their urinary tracts and may have trouble urinating.
- When there are blockages in the urinary tract because of kidney stones or an enlarged prostate
- When one has a suppressed immune system because of diabetes or other diseases. This reduces the body’s ability to fight against germs and can be one of the UTI causes.
- Use of catheters also increases the risk of UTIs.
- If someone has had a recent urinary procedure, it can also become one of the UTI causes. The use of medical instruments for urinary surgery or an exam of your urinary tract can also increase the risk of a urinary tract infection.
How Can You Prevent Urinary Tract Infections?
- Maintain Good Hygiene: Practicing good personal hygiene is one of the first and most important steps to remember. It is recommended to wipe from front to back after a bowel movement to ensure that the bacteria from your rectum do not enter your body. Changing pads and tampons frequently during menstruation is also important to avoid infections.
- Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drinking more fluids, especially water, can remove the bacteria from your urinary tract. Thus, to prevent urinary tract infections, one should drink six to eight glasses of water per day.
- Change Your Urination Habits: Drinking enough water and urinating frequently can reduce your risk of developing a urinary tract infection. It is also a good practice to urinate immediately after sex to ensure that any bacteria that may have been introduced during intercourse gets flushed out.
- Change Your Birth Control: Some women are at risk of urinary tract infections when they use a diaphragm for birth control. If that’s the case for you, speak to your doctor and look for other alternatives and options for birth control.
- Use a Water-based Lubricant During Sex: If you are using lubricants during sex, make sure to use water-based instead of the ones that have fragrances or more chemicals. Also, avoid using spermicide if you get urinary tract infections often.
- Change Your Clothing: If you avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes, it will help keep your private parts dry and will prevent the bacteria from growing in the urinary tract. You can also switch to cotton underwear to ensure that moisture does not get trapped around your urethra.
Doctor at Home In Dubai | First Response Healthcare (FRH)
Our doctor will take the time to understand your symptoms and condition and will advise a plan for urinary tract infection treatment. We strive to ensure that our services are holistic and comprehensive, and thus we can also deliver the medicines prescribed by the doctor right to your doorstep through our pharmacy delivery partners.