A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common infection that is treated with antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can get a UTI when bacteria from your rectum or skin go into your urethra, bladder or kidneys, which make up your urinary tract.
What are Symptoms of UTIs?
Most people with UTIs experience burning or pain when urinating.
If a UTI is in your bladder, you could also have the following symptoms:
- Cramps or pressure in your lower abdomen or groin
- Blood in your urine
- Constantly feeling like you need to pee, even when your bladder is empty
- Urinating frequently
If a UTI is in your kidneys, you could also have the following symptoms:
- Vomiting or nausea
- Pain in your side or lower back
- Chills
- Fever
According to Cureus and the American Urological Association (AUA), older adults are more likely to have the following symptoms if they have a UTI:
- Cloudy urine
- Vaginal dryness
- Pelvic or bladder discomfort
- Urinating frequently
- Urinary incontinence
In older adults, the following may also be experienced:
- Confusion
- Falling
- Fatigue
- Lack of hunger
- Fast heart rate
- Low blood pressure
Fever is the most common symptom for young children with UTIs.
Am I At Risk of a UTI?
You may be more likely to get a UTI if:
- You are female
- You have poor hygiene
- You have an enlarged prostate
- You are an older adult
- You are pregnant
- You have given birth to a baby weighing eight pounds or more
- You have had surgeries to correct ureteral reflux or have had a bladder sling
- You are in menopause
- You use spermicides
- You have had sex recently
- You have had a UTI in the past
- You do not drink enough water
- You are frequently constipated
Some people get recurrent UTIs, which are defined by the AUA as having three positive UTI cultures in a year or two positive UTI cultures in six months.
Additionally, according to Newsweek, it is becoming more common for people who eat meat that has not been cooked or stored properly to get UTIs due to the meat containing Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. UTIs from E. coli bacteria in meat may be more likely to be antibiotic resistant due to farm animals getting regular antibiotic treatment.
How Can I Lower My Risk of UTIs?
You can lower the risk of getting a UTI by:
- Wiping front to back after peeing or pooping
- Not using powders, sprays or douches for your genitals
- Showering instead of bathing
- Avoiding dehydration – drink at least 1.5 liters of water a day
- Urinating after having sex
- Following safe cooking and food handling practices
- Preventing or treating constipation by eating more fiber
If you are a woman in menopause or if you are postmenopausal, you can apply topical estrogen cream to your vagina and the surrounding area. This helps improve urethra support and prevent recurrent UTIs.
D-mannose and cranberry supplements may also play a role in preventing UTIs, because they prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. It is better to take cranberry pills instead of drinking cranberry juice, since juice can have a high sugar content.
What if I Have Symptoms?
If you have symptoms of a UTI, see your primary care provider or a urologist or visit an urgent care. Your provider will ask you about your symptoms, conduct a pelvic exam and order a urine test. Your provider may also order a renal ultrasound if you have a history of kidney stones or hematuria.
If you are diagnosed with a UTI based on the pelvic exam and urine culture, and if you have symptoms, your provider will prescribe an antibiotic. Antibiotics can cure UTIs in most cases. Make sure to follow all directions and take your antibiotics until they are gone.
It is important to let your provider know if you have any of the following side effects after you start taking your antibiotic:
- Yeast infection
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Rash
If your UTI is severe or not responding to antibiotic treatment, you may need to go to a hospital for treatment. You could have an antibiotic-resistant UTI or another illness that could result in permanent damage or death if left untreated.
You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain if recommended by your provider. Also, it is important to stay hydrated when you have a UTI by drinking 1.5 liters or more of water a day.
If your urine culture is not positive for a UTI, you could need additional testing to determine if you have a UTI, or you could have other mimicking conditions, such as painful bladder syndrome or pelvic floor dysfunction.
Pelvic floor therapy can be useful for alleviating pain and other symptoms, regardless of if you have a UTI or a mimicking condition.
UofL Health Can Help
UofL Physicians – Primary Care offers nearly 50 practice locations in Louisville and the surrounding area. Call 502-588-4343 to schedule an appointment. If your symptoms are more severe, visit a UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus location, or call 911 or visit a UofL Health – Emergency Department.
Our urologists at UofL Physicians – Urology and UofL Physicians – Urology Associates treat the full range of urological disorders, including UTIs. View all our Urology locations here.
Our urogynecologists at UofL Physicians – Urogynecology and UofL Physicians – Urogynecology Associates specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of female urologic and pelvic problems. View all our Urogynecology locations here.
The Women’s Health and Pelvic Floor Therapy Program at UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute was developed to offer services for women living with urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, pelvic pain, dysfunctional voiding/defecation and pregnancy/post-partum related pain and weakness. For more information, call 502-582-7400.
