How to Avoid (and Relieve) Urinary Tract Infections
8/17/2023
TUCSON, AZ (Aug. 17, 2023) – Urinary tract infections, commonly known as UTIs, are one of the most common bacterial infections in the United States, resulting in seven million office visits to healthcare providers each year.
About 50 percent of women and three percent of men worldwide will experience a UTI in their lifetimes. While most UTIs are not serious, they can cause intense discomfort – and can lead to kidney damage or sepsis if left untreated.
UTIs are an infection in any part of the urinary system, including kidneys, bladder and urethra, often caused by bacteria (like E. coli) entering through the urethra.
“Anyone who has had a UTI knows how uncomfortable they can be,” says Gina Cliett, M.D., FPMRS, a urogynecologist (specialist in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery) with Northwest Healthcare. “Once you develop one, you will usually need an antibiotic prescribed by a doctor.”
UTIs can develop very suddenly. Symptoms include painful or burning urination; a frequent urge to urinate; the feeling that the bladder is not completely empty; and pressure in the abdomen or groin. Some women suffer from recurrent UTIs, defined as two culture-proven infections in six months or three in one year.
“UTIs can occur in anyone, but post-menopausal women need to be especially careful about prevention and treatment,” says Anthony “Tony” Gaddi, M.D., FPMRS, who is also a urogynecologist with Northwest Healthcare. “These infections become more common because of various female anatomical issues and lower amounts of estrogen.”
You can’t always prevent a UTI, but there are a few things you can do to support a healthy urinary system. Taking a daily women’s probiotic; a D-mannose supplement; and cranberry tablets (not cranberry juice, due to its high sugar content) can be helpful for women of all ages. If you are post-menopausal, you might also talk with your gynecologist about taking vaginal estrogen in the form of a cream, gel, or ring.
If you find yourself developing frequent and/or severe UTIs – especially if they are accompanied by other pelvic issues – you may opt to see a urogynecologist.
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