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UTI in Women: The causes, symptoms, effects and treatment options

In sharp contrast to the notion that a urinary tract infection (UTI) can only occur in men, it has been found out that even women are susceptible to the infection at some point in their lives. A Urinary Tract Infection affects the urethra, kidneys or bladder, with the infection sticking to the lower urinary tract in most cases.

Symptoms of UTI

Human Reproduction

It is essential that you treat UTI as and when you start noticing the symptoms of the condition. Some of the more common symptoms of the infection include increased urge to urinate often, passing very small amounts of urine, burning sensation when urinating, cloudy appearance of urine, strong smelling urine and appearance of blood in the urine.

Some women who have UTI also tend to experience pelvic pain. The other symptoms that vary according to the type of infection and the part of the body where they occur include back pain, body chills, high fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps and discomfort. In the worst case scenario, untreated urinary tract infection can lead to bladder cancer. And the thing to note here is that women are more at risk of getting bladder cancer than men.

Treating Urinary Tract Infections in Women

Woman in a toilet. Legs in white stockings with garters.

The standard remedy for UTIs in women would be a dose of antibiotics that need to be followed every day until the infection dies down aka until the symptoms start abating. A doctor would usually prescribe these antibiotics, taking into consideration factors like the patient’s health condition, the type of bacteria found in the urine and existing medications that patient might already be taking at the time of infection.

In most cases of UTI, the symptoms would start clearing up within a few days of starting the treatment. It is recommended to continue the complete dosage as prescribed by the doctor even if the symptoms disappear. This would help prevent recurrences and flush out any residual bacteria that might trigger off another infection.

Preventing urinary tract infection the natural way

In addition to the antibiotics, there are some natural remedies that would offer relief from UTI and its symptoms. These include:

  • Drinking Lots of Water

european woman with bottle of clear water

It is considered wise to drink at least 10 glasses of water every day when suffering from a UTI. This will help flush out the bacteria from your body as well as dilute the urine and reduce the burning sensation experienced during urination.

  • Applying heating pads

young sick woman

Applying a heating pad over the affected region can help reduce the pain caused by the infection. Applying the heating pad to the abdomen and bladder can therefore, reduce the pressure, pain and discomfort caused in the region.

  • Avoiding triggers

Beautiful woman reading the newspaper while drinking coffee

It is also considered wise to refrain from eating foods or drinking fluids that can trigger another bout of infection and aggravate the symptoms further. Staying away from spicy, oil and fried food as well as alcohol, coffee, and soft drinks can help the body heal from the infection quickly.

  • Avoiding chemical based makeup and body care products

young woman and skincare products

Chemical based body care products can aggravate the symptoms of a UTI further. They can also irritate the area of infection. Hence, staying away from these products until the infection heals completely is considered a must.

  • Emptying the bladder often

Drinking

During a UTI, one would need to keep emptying the bladder from time to time. Although a bit painful at first, this will help flush out the harmful pathogens from the body. This is where drinking loads of water would come in handy.

  • Wiping from front to back

bowel movement

It is also considered wise to always wipe from front to back after showering or a bowel movement. This would prevent pathogens in the anal region from reaching the urethra and vagina in front.

Urinary Tract Infection is an infection that affects the urethra, kidneys or bladder. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious problems like bladder cancer. Hence, one would need to identify it in the early stages and use a combination of medications and natural remedies to curb the infection effectively.

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