What is a Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection is an infection in the urinary system, which involves your kidney, bladder, and urethra. When bacteria enter your urinary system, it causes infection and inflammation thus urinary tract infection (UTI). Your urinary tract is the one responsible for making and storing urine, one of your body’s liquid wastes.

Consult the best urologist in Brooklyn if you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Contact us at Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center.

Causes

Urinary tract infection is caused by the bacteria that enter your urinary system that causes the infection. Though UTI is mostly in your urethra and bladder, the bacteria could also travel up and infect your kidney.

Symptoms

UTI may not always show signs or symptoms. But when they do, they may include:

• Pain on your side, abdomen, or pelvic area
• Pressure on your lower pelvis
• A burning feeling when you pee
• A frequent or intense urge to pee
• Fever or chills (a sign that the infection may have reached your kidneys)
• Strong-smelling urine
• Urine that appears cloudy

Risk Factors

UTI is common in women. Some of the risk factors that are more specific to women are:

• Sexual Activity – if you are sexually active you are more prone to UTI than those who are not sexually active
• Birth Control – certain types of birth control especially if you use diaphragms for birth control, you tend to be at higher risk for infection, as well as those who use spermicidal agents
• Menopause – a declining estrogen causes changes in your urinary tract making you prone to infection
• Female anatomy – if you have a shorter urethra which shortens the distance the bacteria must travel to reach the bladder

Other risk factors:

• Urinary tract abnormalities – if you have urinary tract abnormalities that don’t allow your urine to leave your body normally
• Catheter – if you can’t urinate on your own, you are at high risk of developing UTI
• Have undergone the urinary procedure – if you have undergone urinary surgery or had an exam in the urinary tract that involves a medical instrument, you are also at high risk of UTI

Prevention

There are ways and steps you can reduce your risk of developing urinary tract infection:

• Drink plenty of water – water helps dilute your urine and helps you urinate more frequently thus flushing the bacteria from your urinary tract
• Wipe from front to back – wiping from front to back after urinating or after bowel movement prevents the bacteria from the anal from spreading to your vagina and to your urethra
• Empty your bladder after intercourse
• Avoid irritating feminine products – some feminine products can irritate your genital area causing the bacteria to travel to your urethra
• Birth control – Diaphragms and spermicide-treated condoms can also contribute to bacterial growth
• Changing your clothing – Avoid tight-fitting clothes that keep you from being dry. You could also switch to cotton underwear. This prevents extra moisture from getting trapped around your genital area

Treatment

Antibiotics are the most effective medication in combating an infection. They kill the bacteria and prevent it from recurring. Your healthcare provider will pick a drug or medication that best treats the particular bacteria in your urinary tract. It is very important that you follow the direction and prescriptions given to you by your medical provider. An infection can return if it is not treated properly.

At Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center, our urologist in East New York can help you treat and manage your condition well. To schedule an appointment, you may call us at 1-347-384-5690 or visit our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com/.