subject: UTI: Facts and Prevention [print this page] If you have a continuous urge to urinate, a burning sensation when you do, and are passing small amounts of urine at a time, you could have a urinary tract infection (UTI). A urinary tract infection begins in your urinary system and is caused when bacteria enters the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder. More women than men are at risk of getting a UTI and almost half of all women will have the pleasure of dealing with one or more in their lifetime.
Urinary tract infections can lead to other problems if not taken care of right away. Each type of UTI may result in more specific signs and symptoms depending on which part of your urinary tract is infected. Acute pyelonephritis is an infection of your kidneys that may occur after spreading from an infection in your bladder. Kidney infections can cause upper back pain, high fever, chills and nausea or vomiting.
There is also Cystitis which is inflammation or an infection of your bladder that can cause pelvic pressure, lower abdomen discomfort, frequent painful urination and strong-smelling urine. Urethritis is also inflammation or an infection, but of the urethra, which leads to burning with urination. These other discomforting issues can be tamed if you just take care of a UTI the minute you find out you have one or, if necessary, by using urinary catheters.
The reason that more women acquire this uncomfortable problem than men is that women have a shorter urethra than men have, which cuts down on the distance the bacteria are traveling to reach the bladder. Also, women who are sexually active tend to have more UTIs. Sexual intercourse can aggravate the urethra, allowing germs to travel into the bladder more easily. After menopause, UTIs can become more common because tissues of the vagina, urethra and the base of the bladder become thinner and more fragile due to loss of estrogen.
If you have the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, see your doctor right away. However, you can take steps to reduce your risk of urinary tract infections by drinking plenty of liquids, especially water, urinating when you have the urge to instead of holding it in, avoid irritating feminine products like powders or sprays and try to urinate as soon as possible after intercourse. These steps will give you less of a chance of getting a UTI.
