I Keep Getting Bladder Infections

What Is The Urinary Tract

The urinary tract makes and stores urine, one of the body’s liquid waste products. The urinary tract includes the following parts:

• Kidneys: These small organs are located on back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters of your body removing waste and water from your blood. This waste becomes urine.
• Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
• Bladder: A sac-like container, the bladder stores your urine before it leaves the body.
• Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.

What If The Infection Does Not Clear Up With Treatment

Most infections clear up with treatment. However, if an infection does not clear up, or if you have repeated infections, you may be given some special tests such as:

• a type of x-ray called an intravenous pyleogram , which involves injecting a dye into a vein and taking pictures of your kidney and bladder

• an ultrasound exam, which gives a picture of your kidneys and bladder using sound waves

• a cytoscopic exam, which uses a hollow tube with special lenses to look inside the bladder.

You’re Having A Lot Of Sex

Whether you and your partner can’t keep your hands off each other or you’re having fun with multiple people, more sex can lead to more UTIs.

In premenopausal people assigned female at birth, having sex at least three times a week and having new or multiple partners can increase the risk of UTIs and recurrent UTIs, per the NIH.

“Being sexually active can push bacteria into the urethra opening and into the bladder,” Dr. Ellerkman says.

Using spermicide also increases the risk, according to an older, May 2008 study in General Internal Medicine. It’s believed that the spermicide damages the vaginal flora, encouraging the growth of bacteria that causes UTIs, according to American Family Physician.

The fix: None of this means you have to give up sex. First, if spermicide seems to be the issue, talk to your doctor to find another form of birth control and other ways to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections .

If you frequently get UTIs, you should pee after intercourse, Dr. Ellerkman says. Although it has not been proven effective in randomized controlled studies to reduce the risk of UTI, Dr. Ellerkman says it doesn’t hurt to try if you’re prone to infections. “You don’t need to spring out of bed as soon as your orgasm is complete,” he says, but try to hit the bathroom within about a half hour.

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What If They Keep Coming Back

Recurrent UTIs are defined as having two infections in a period of six months or three infections in a year. Most recurrences are due to a new infection as opposed to the old infection lingering. There are a few reasons why these recurrences might happen, including having cell receptors that bacteria is more prone to affecting. Those who are sexually active are also more prone to infections, due to the fact that bacteria is more likely to spread during sex, which is why proper hygiene and urinating after sex is very important. Your diet can also contribute. If youre not well hydrated, your body may have difficulty flushing out bacteria effectively. Additionally, a balanced diet can keep your bowels running properly, meaning theres less pressure on your bladder from your bowels. Diarrhea can also more easily spread bacteria. If you feel like you might have a urinary tract infection, especially if you suffer from recurrent UTis, its important to book an appointment with Mississippi Urology Clinic for an official diagnosis. A simple UTI can develop into a more complex infection if untreated. On the other hand, the symptoms could also come from a different type of infection that may require a different type of treatment. Most importantly, dont suffer these symptoms without reaching out for help. We can diagnose a UTI and have you feeling better soon with the proper medication and treatment.

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Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection In Pregnancy

UTI is the most frequent medical complication of pregnancy. The risk factors of preterm delivery, low infant birth weight and abortions are most commonly associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy. In pregnancy, factors that contribute to UTI risk are ureteric and renal pelvis dilation increased urinary pH decreased muscle tone of the ureters, and glycosuria, which promotes bacterial growth. Treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy reduces the risk of pyelonephritis. As RUTIs are common in pregnancy, they need prophylactic treatment if they occur. Screening for bacteriuria is recommended in all pregnant women at their first prenatal visit and then in the third trimester., They should subsequently be treated with antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin, sulfisoxazole or cephalexin.,, Antibiotic prophylaxis for RUTI in pregnant women is effective using continuous or post-coital regimens. The causative organisms of UTI in pregnancy are similar to those found in non-pregnant patients, with E. coli accounting for 8090% of infections., Urinary group B streptococcal infections in pregnant women need to be treated and followed by intrapartum prophylaxis.

Does Cranberry Juice Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection

Many people say that cranberry juice can help treat, or even prevent, a UTI. Researchers are currently looking into the topic, but havent found a definitive answer yet. Healthcare providers recommend drinking lots of fluids if you have, or have a history of getting, a UTI. Adding a glass of unsweetened cranberry juice to your diet isnt a proven way to prevent a UTI, but it typically wont hurt you either.

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How Do Utis Affect Pregnancy

Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy raise your risk for UTIs. UTIs during pregnancy are more likely to spread to the kidneys.

If you’re pregnant and have symptoms of a UTI, see your doctor or nurse right away. Your doctor will give you an antibiotic that is safe to take during pregnancy.

If left untreated, UTIs could lead to kidney infections and problems during pregnancy, including:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight

Urinary Tract Infection Causes Symptoms Prevention Complications And Treatment

Urinary Tract Infection is a very common disease in adults and pediatric populations as well. Urine infections are more common in women than men. UTI or UTIS are the different nomenclatures of urinary tract infections. The main cause of urinary tract infections is bacterial infections. However, in some cases, UTI can be developed by fungal infections and viral infections too. About 40 % to 45% of women and 10% to 15 % of men have urinary tract infections at some time in their lifetime.

Urine infection affects the entire urinary tract including Urethra, Urinary Bladder, and Kidneys. Firstly, early diagnosis of UTI plays an important role in disease management. Secondly, it reduces the risk of complications. If the urinary tract infection is not treated on time, resulting in kidney failure. Recurrent urine infection can cause Kidney Stones.

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A Pharmacist Can Help With Utis

You can ask a pharmacist about treatments for a UTI. A pharmacist can:

• offer advice on things that can help you get better
• suggest the best painkiller to take
• tell you if you need to see a GP about your symptoms

Some pharmacies offer a UTI management service and can prescribe antibiotics if they’re needed.

And It Won’t Hurt To Try These

Like many women, you may have memorized the following age-old advice for preventing UTIs:

• Wipe from front to back.

• Urinate before and after sex.

• Drink lots of water.

• Avoid tight underpants and jeans.

These suggestions are directed at flushing the bladder and keeping E. coli from spreading into the urinary tract. Although studies have failed to show that they prevent either primary or recurrent UTIs, there’s no harm in trying them, Dr. Gupta says. “They can’t hurt, and if they help, you’re ahead of the game.”

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Heres Why Utis Are Common After Sex

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Many of us are familiar with the feeling of a urinary tract infection . It can be uncomfortable, annoying, and painful, and often recurs time and time again. Many are also familiar with the unfortunate experience of getting a UTI after having sex. This can easily interfere with your sex life, especially if it becomes a chronic problem.

Heres what you need to know about UTIs and why theyre fairly common after intercourse.

Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosis

Bladder infections are sometimes difficult to diagnose in elders because of uncommon symptoms that might occur. If a bladder infection is suspected, the easiest way to get a diagnosis is to go to the doctors and have a urinalysis done.

With a simple urine culture a doctor is able to tell whether you have an infection or not, what kind of bacteria caused your UTI and what antibiotic should be used to treat it.

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How Do I Know Its A Uti

Urinary tract infections usually present themselves with a strong need to urinate, with the urine often being cloudy, strong-smelling, or even bloody. It is usually painful to urinate, and the infection may also present with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. A UTI can be diagnosed through a simple urine test and can often be treated with antibiotics.

What Can Happen If A Uti Is Not Treated

If treated right away, a UTI is not likely to damage your urinary tract. But if your UTI is not treated, the infection can spread to the kidneys and other parts of your body. The most common symptoms of kidney infection are fever and pain in the back where the kidneys are located. Antibiotics can also treat kidney infections.

Sometimes the infection can get in the bloodstream. This is rare but life-threatening.

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Choose The Right Food

With the assistance of your dogs veterinarian, you should select a dog food that matches the canines overall health. This is extremely crucial if your pet has lingering kidney issues.

In general, canines with kidney problems should tone down their protein consumption. This is to reduce the kidneys workload. Still, the diet should remain complete and balanced.

What Is A Uti

Before we talk about recurrent UTIs, lets talk about UTIs in general.

A UTI is an infection in any part of your urinary tract, the Mayo Clinic explains. The infection usually starts when bacteria normally found in your bowels get into the urethra, where pee exits from. Instead of urine flushing out the bacteria or your immune system fending it off like its supposed to, the bacteria begin to colonize the urinary tract, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases . Most UTIs stay in the urethra and bladder , per the Mayo Clinic.

Sometimes a UTI keeps coming back, which is called a recurrent UTI or a chronic UTI. Most people would say a true recurrent UTI is either two within six months or three within a year, Sandip Vasavada, M.D., urologic director of the Center for Female Urology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic within the Glickman Urological Institute, tells SELF.

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Why Do I Get Utis So Often

Obstructions of the Urinary Tract. Urine helps to keep the urinary tract free of infection by washing away bacteria. Any factor that reduces or obstructs the flow of urine can cause frequent UTIs. Kidney stones are one common cause of frequent UTI, because they can disrupt urine flow through the urinary tract.

Utis And Sexually Transmitted Diseases

A number of sexually transmitted infections are known to cause UTIs, including trichomoniasis and chlamydia. Oftentimes a person will assume that the UTI is bacterial in nature and fail to identify the underlying STI.

It is, therefore, vital to consider your risk of STIs when any infection of the genitals or urinary tract is involved. This is especially true if you have multiple sex partners or have gotten a UTI after having sex with a new partner.

Current pediatric guidelines recommend that doctors take a comprehensive sexual history of any adolescent with urinary tract complaints and routinely test them for STIs.

Sexually active men under the age of 35 who don’t use condoms can experience a condition called epididymitis. It is an infection of the epididymis, the coiled tube to the back of the testicles, that can be caused either by bacteria or an STI, most often gonorrhea or chlamydia. Treatment varies based on the cause and severity.

Safer sex practices, which include the consistent use of condoms, are always the best plan for reducing the risk of these and other STIs.

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Is It A Urinary Infection Or Something Else

The problem with urinary infections is it can also resemble a more serious health problem. Straining to urinate, smelly pee, and blood in urine can be easily seen as UTI. But in some cases, it might be something worse.

One example here is trauma. For example, a dog hit by a car or has fallen from an elevated surface could sustain kidney trauma, which can trigger UTI-like symptoms.

Moreover, physical trauma can cause bloody urine or straining to pee. These are hallmark signs of urinary infections, so its easy for pet owners to miss the real problem in their dogs bodies. Until the trauma is treated, your pet will appear to have a recurring bladder infection.

Overall, its best to rule out poisoning, cancer, urinary obstruction, and spinal injuries. While some of these are wildly rare, they can still occur in some dogs.

Ayurvedic Treatment For Urine Infection

Ayurvedic and Unani medicines are also very helpful in the treatment of urinary tract infections. A combination of allopathic antibiotics and herbal alkalizers/diuretics is very effective. These preparations prevent damage to your kidneys and manage burning sensations. Use following herbal medicines for the treatment of UTI with the doctors advice.

• Sharbat-e-Bazoori 10-15 ml once a day in the morning hours
• Tablet Neeri 1 tablet morning and 1 tablet in the evening with water
• Syrup Renalka 10 ml thrice a day with water

When urine becomes more acidic causes a burning sensation. To control the PH value and control the acidic medium of urine, alkalizers are used. The name of urine infection syrup is Alkasol, Neeri, and Renalka.

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Recurrent Uti Treatment: Why Choose Johns Hopkins

• Our team of experts specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs, and uses comprehensive diagnostic tools to help identify any cause of chronic UTIs to create an effective treatment plan.
• After treatment for active UTI, we counsel our patients on their risk factors for UTIs and how to protect their urinary health in the long term. We will work with you to develop personalized treatment plans that include a combination of therapies and lifestyles changes that reduce the risk of UTI recurrence.

What Can You Do To Prevent Recurrent Utis

If you are suffering from recurrent UTIs, you must get in touch with your primary care physician or a urologist. After carefully evaluating your condition, he/she will design an appropriate course of treatment.

Also, there are a lot of ways through which you can minimize your chances of getting UTIs. For this,

• Drink plenty of water It will help you get flush out all the bacteria through urine.
• Do not hold your pee If you feel the urge to urinate, find a bathroom and go.
• Maintain good sexual hygiene Do not indulge in unhealthy sexual activities. Also, urinate shortly after sex.
• Always use clean washrooms Make sure the washroom that you are using is clean and fresh.
• Use dermatologically tested products Always use sprays, deodorants and powders that are medically approved. And avoid using sprays close to your genitals.
• Keep your genitals clean Always wipe yourself from front to back after urinating.
• Wear cotton underwear Always prefer cotton panties to help keep your urethra dry.

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