Both men and women can get urinary tract infections. However, women are at a greater risk of suffering from these infections because their urinary system has a greater surface area to volume ratio than men. Most women, therefore, seek medical help due to urinary tract infections to help treat the causative agents before severe complications arise. Other people fail to consult their physician because they think the caregivers will judge them. Some also confuse urinary tract infections with sexually transmitted infections.
But the two are very different, and you do not have to feel ashamed to consult any medical practitioner in any situation. Therefore, if you suspect you got a urinary tract infection and seek help, Dr. Soo Kwon New York, among other specialists, is here to your rescue. She studies your urine to determine if your tract has an infection. It helps determine the best treatment for the infection to prevent it from reaching your kidneys. Read on to understand more about urinary tract infections.
What is a urinary tract infection?
Generally, urinary tract infection affects any part of your urinary systems like the ureters, kidneys, urethra, or bladder. Usually, women are at a greater risk of having urinary tract infections due to certain family planning methods, sexual activity, urinary tract anomalies, menopause, and immuno-compromised people. Similarly, if you undergo any urinary procedure like catheterization, you are at risk of suffering from a UTI.
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
Of importance to note is that your care provider can find bacteria in urine, and still, your urinary tract is infected. But if you are experiencing any symptoms and bacteria present in your urine, you should seek medical attention for diagnosis and prompt treatment. Because your infection can worsen, producing symptoms like blood in urine, strong need to urinate, pelvic pain, and pain or burning sensation while urinating. Similarly, you also experience the urge to use the bathroom more often but only pass little urine. Therefore, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should consult your care provider for urine testing. A scope can also view your bladder to help identify the underlying cause. And if your UTI is not untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys resulting in sepsis or long-term organ damage.
How can urinary tract infections be treated?
In most cases, antibiotics are usually administered to help treat urinary tract infections. The purpose of these drugs is to alleviate pain, among other symptoms. All you are encouraged to do is to ensure you adhere to the antibiotic regimen and ensure you complete those given to you to prevent the recurrence of the infection. And if your infection is recurrent, your care provider may prescribe a lower dose antibiotic that you are supposed to take for several months.
Other than using medications, your care provider may also recommend some dietary and lifestyle modifications to help reduce the recurrence of infections. Therefore, if you are experiencing any urinary tract infection symptoms and seek treatment, you can get started by calling Park Avenue Urogynecology today.
