UTI

UTIs occur when bacteria get into your urinary tract. The bacteria may accumulate in your urethra, the tube that carries urine out of your body or travel through your urinary tract, infecting your bladder, kidneys, and, in men, the prostate gland.

UTIs have different names based on the infection’s location:

• Urethritis is a urethral infection
• Cystitis is a bladder infection
• Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection
• Prostatitis is a prostate infection
  

Women develop UTIs at any age, while men are more likely to have trouble with UTIs as they get older. Women have a higher risk of UTIs because of their anatomy; their urethral opening is in close proximity to bacteria living around the vagina and rectum.

A mild UTI can come and go without causing symptoms or problems. A more severe UTI, however, causes symptoms such as:

• Frequent urination
• Strong need to urinate
• Urinary incontinence
• Bleeding during urination
• Passing a tiny amount of urine
• Strong-smelling urine
• Cloudy, dark, or pink urine
• Lower abdominal pain
  

If the infection spreads to your kidneys, you also develop symptoms such as nausea, fever, and pain in your upper back or side. If you have a fever along with your urinary symptoms, it’s important to get early treatment to prevent a potential kidney infection from damaging your kidneys.

After a urinalysis to verify you have a UTI, the team at Gulf Coast Urology typically treats an uncomplicated UTI with antibiotics. If you have recurring UTIs, a problem that affects nearly 30% of women with UTIs, you need more intensive treatment.

Recurring UTIs are defined as having two or more infections in six months or three or more over a year. To stop recurring UTIs, your Gulf Coast Urology provider may prescribe low-dose antibiotics taken for a longer time or a single dose taken after sexual intercourse.

Postmenopausal women may get relief from recurring UTIs by taking hormone replacement therapy. You may also reduce your risk for recurring UTIs by drinking enough water to dilute your urine and flush out bacteria.

If you need treatment for a UTI, call Gulf Coast Urology or schedule an appointment online.