Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) ? Symptoms & Treatments

A Urinary Tract Infection(UTI) effects 1 in 2 woman at least once in their lifetime. Men are usually safe from UTI?s than woman. This is because the pathway to the bladder in women is shorter than in men. Therefore bacteria have a shorter distance to travel making women a easy tract for UTI infections to attack.

An untreated UTI can cause many issues to your kidneys, bladder, ureter and urethra, so treatment is necessary. 1 in 2 women are at risk of repeat UTIs.. Whereas 1 in 10 men are at risk according to the statistics.

If you get a UTI then you must visit a doctor, this is essential so you can get started on antibiotics. Going on Antibiotics the first few times in OK, although this may also becomes an issue if your body may become resistant to the antibiotics. If you get repeated UTIs then other prevention steps should be acknowledged.

The feeling of a UTI is horrible. Having a constant urge to pee, and a burning sensation around your lower extremes, make it difficult to live a normal daily lifestyle. Follow my story to learn steps I have taken to avoid getting UTIs that have worked for me. Everyone is different, but these steps have helped me out tremendously.

Type of UTIs and there Symptoms

There are many types of different UTIs. The 3 main types are Pyelonephritis (Kidney), Cystitis (Bladder) , Urethritis (Urethra)

Pyelonephritis (Kidney)

• Nausea/Vomiting
• High Fever
• Shaking and Chills
• Pain in the Upper Back and Side

Cystitis (Bladder)

• Lower Abdomen Discomfort
• Pelvic Area Pressure
• Painful & Frequent Urination
• Blood in the Urine
• Burning Sensation when Urinating

Urethritis (Urethra)

• Excess Discharge
• Burning Sensation when Urinating

So what causes a UTI?

1. A weak immune system makes a person contract a UTI faster than anyone with a strong immune system, so staying healthy, with a good intake of Vitamin C helps
2. Woman who have been thru menopause are a higher risk of getting a UTI, because of the drop in estrogen levels the both produces and circulates.
3. The female anatomy is a big culprit of UTIs because of the distance the bacteria has to travel to get to the Urethra in females in shorter than males
4. People who use Diaphragms or Spermicidal Agents over Birth Control pills are at a higher risk of getting UTIs

Other causes

These are less common, but are still come things to thing about if you have recently contracted a UTI

1. Any Urinary Procedure or Surgery can cause a UTI
2. Urinary tract abnormalities that may have developed over time or from birth
3. Things like Kidney stones or any type of blockage can trap urine increasing UTI Risks
4. Diabetes or other conditions can weaken the immune system
5. Use of a Catheter ? especially in hospitals or nursing homes

Symptoms of a UTI

• Most common is a painful or burning feeling when peeing
• Needing to urinate frequently with added pressure to the abdomen
• Cloudy or Bloody Urine
• Smell of Urine which maybe strong
• Vomiting and Nausea
• Aches in your abdominal or abdominal pain with cramps.
• Strong Pelvic Pain

Options for Treatment & Prevention of UTIs

Dont forget to check out?my post?on the way I have solved my recurrent UTI issues and hows its helped me

Antibotics

These are prescribed by your doctor

• Antibiotics or Antimicrobial
  • Often used are the following but not limited to these :
    • Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, others)
    • Fosfomycin (Monurol)
    • Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid)
    • Cephalexin (Keflex)
    • Ceftriaxone

Along with the antibotics also do the following

• Flush out the bacteria by drinking lots of water and pure cranberry juice
• Apply heating pad to back and abdomen to relieve pain
• OTC pain med like ibuprofen or alive
• Take Probiotics supplements to help fight of the bacteria
• Increase your Vitamin C intake

Great Natural Supplements

• D-Mannose ? This is a type of sugar found in cranberries. I personally use this one and love it.
• Bearberry Leaf (uva-ursi) ? Known to decrease UTI Recurrence, with a combination of Bearberry Leaf, Dandelion Root and Leaf.
• Cranberry Extract ? Similar to Cranberry Juice, it prevents bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract wall. Similar to Cranberry Juice
• Garlic Extract ? May help block the growth of bacteria to prevent UTIs since it contains Antimicrobial Properties

Home Remedies & Prevention of a UTI

• Cranberry extracts & some of the other Natural Supplements
• Drink lots of liquid and avoid sugar, alcohol and caffeine
• Drink plenty of fluids, like water and unsweetened cranberry juice
• Avoid Sugar if at all possible
• Always wipe from front to back
• Empty your bladder after Intercourse
• Do not use feminine products like sprays, douches or powders
• Do not use diaphragms, or spermicide treated condoms.
• Avoid Oils and use showers over a bath.
• Avoid Tampons, use Sanitary pads or menstrual cups instead
• Wear loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear to keep the urethra dry.
• To relieve back and abdominal pain use a heating pad

For reoccurring Cystitis UTIs

• Single dose of antibiotics after Intercourse
  • Single dose of antibiotics each time after intercourse for up to 6 months
  • Then slowly cut it down to an as needed basis
• Take a 2-to-3-day course of an antibiotic ? if symptoms reappear
• Undergo vaginal estrogen therapy if you have already had menopause
• Take Dmannose each time after intercourse
• Keep up Vitamin C and Probotic Intake.

Summary

Urinary Tract Infections happen to many men and woman but tend to be more common in females due to the short distance to the Uterus. They can make life extremely miserable for anyone who has ever had a UTI. They are uncomfortable, painful and really unpleasant, making you spend hours sitting on a toilet seat with a burning sensation that doesn?t feel like its ever going to go away.

I found after years of struggling with it, and not really understanding what was happening to me, I was desperate to find a solution. After a ton of research and many doctor visits, I have found solution that works for me, so visit my blog to read about my story, and how I manage my reoccurring UTIs. I have not had a UTI since 2018 now.

Besides my own personal preferences and what?s worked for me, there are many options to try. Natural Home Remedies are great and doing all you can to follow the prevention steps are always best. The natural supplements are fantastic and definitely worth trying, but generally if you have already contracted a UTI then you may not have a choice but to get hold of some antibiotics, treat the infection and later more onto the natural supplements and prevention methods to avoid having the infection come back later.