Did you know that many women experience a urinary tract infection (UTI) at least once in their lifetime? It is a common bladder infection caused by bacteria, which can travel from your urethra to your bladder. Symptoms like frequent urge to urinate, pain during urination, cloudy urine, smell of urine, etc., are common. If not treated on time, it can cause life-threatening complications. Luckily, it is treatable. Learn effective UTI treatment options in this article. Visit Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center and consult with the best Women’s health specialist in New York.

Effective UTI Treatment Options

Different options are used to effectively treat UTIs based on the infection’s severity, symptoms, and overall health. This helps the doctor determine how long you need treatment to manage the condition. Common UTI treatment options are:

1. Medications:

The most common medications used to treat UTIs are antibiotics. Generally, UTIs are caused by bacteria, and antibiotics work by either killing or stopping bacteria from growing. Not all antibiotics can treat UTIs, but some options can work. Here are the most common antibiotics used to treat UTI.

• Fosfomycin: It is a single-dose antibiotic for UTIs that are easier to treat, usually caused by certain bacteria, including E. coli.
• Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole: It is often used to treat more severe UTIs, however, it may be harmful to beneficial bacteria in your body and can lead to antibiotic resistance. It may be effective to treat recurrent UTIs (recurring UTIs) over a longer period. But it isn’t safe during pregnancy or nursing. It is usually prescribed for 14 days (about 2 weeks) to treat a UTI.
• First-generation cephalosporins such as cefalexin have a high urine excretion rate, which enhances their effectiveness for UTIs. Doctors often prescribe this to people who are allergic to penicillin. It is safe to take during pregnancy. However, avoid it while nursing. The typical treatment duration lasts for 7 days when used to treat UTIs.
• Nitrofurantoin: It is suitable to treat simple UTIs. Your doctor can prescribe this as a prophylactic antibiotic. This medicine slows the bacterial growth instead of killing them, allowing your immune system to naturally resolve this infection. If you’re pregnant and/or nursing, you need to consult with your doctor about the safety of using nitrofurantoin. It’s not recommended after 38 weeks of pregnancy. Usually, it is recommended for 7 days of use to treat UTIs.

Like any medicine, antibiotics may lead to some side effects, including:

• Rash
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Yeast infections
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you have any side effects, make sure you tell your doctor. Make sure you tell your doctor about allergies because they can be severe or even life-threatening.

Sometimes, if you use antibiotics for a long time, the pathogens in UTI infections become resistant to them, which means the medicines will no longer work. So, you either need to change the antibiotic or take the medicine intravenously. In this method, medicine is directly injected into your veins in your arm. It is used for more severe infections or when oral medications can’t be used. The most common intravenous medicines are:

• Ampicillin: It is used to treat infections resistant to certain antibiotics.
• Ceftriaxone: It is used to treat simple UTIs and is effective for a 3-day course.
• Intravenous meropenem: It is a good option for severe UTIs caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in adults.
• Cefiderocol: It is the last option for severe UTIs. However, it may cause gastrointestinal side effects, and people with kidney conditions should use it with caution.
• Imipenem: This medicine is well tolerated and often used to treat gram-negative infections in adults, including people who are severely ill or at considerable risk.

Besides antibiotics, some over-the-counter medications are used to ease UTI symptoms, including:

• Acetaminophen is used to lower pain and fever.
• Phenazopyridine is used to alleviate pain and burning.
• Methenamine may ease pain and inflammation.

Keep in mind, these medications can’t treat the infection.

• Home remedies:

If you have a UTI, you should always see your doctor. However, there are some things you can do at home to relieve your symptoms and prevent future infections. Remember, these remedies don’t cure your infection, so consider them a secondary option to manage your symptoms.

• Baking soda: This might lower the acidity in your pee and treat some mild symptoms of UTI. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to your glass of water every 3 to 4 hours. However, consult with your doctor first because some people who need to manage their salt intake shouldn’t try this because it contains elevated levels of sodium.
• Apple cider vinegar: It has some enzymes that may prevent bacteria from multiplying. You can drink this with water. Make sure you ask your doctor how much and how often you should drink it because drinking too much may cause side effects like tooth erosion.
• Supplements: Some supplements can treat or prevent UTIs along with treatment, including:
  • Vitamin C
  • D-mannose, a type of sugar, is found in apples.
  • Probiotics
  • Methenamine salts
  • Cranberry products

• Lifestyle changes: These habits can be useful to lower or prevent recurrent infections. They include:
• Practice good hygiene: This is one of the best ways to prevent UTIs, especially if you have a vagina because your urethra is much shorter, and easier for bacteria to move from your rectum back into your body. So, always wipe from front to back after a bowel movement to prevent this. During your menstrual period, you should continually change your period products, including pads and tampons. Avoid using any deodorants on your vagina.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking a lot of fluids, especially water, helps you to flush out bacteria from your urinary tract. Doctors recommend drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.
• Change your peeing habits: Peeing can play an essential role in removing bacteria from your body because it is a waste product that helps empty your bladder to remove waste from your body. Peeing frequently can lower the risk of infection, especially if you get recurring UTIs. You should try to pee right before and after having sex because sex can allow bacteria to enter your urethra and peeing before and after sex helps flush them out. If you can’t pee, wash the area with warm water.
• Change your birth control: If you use a diaphragm for birth control, it may increase your risk for developing a UTI. Talk with your doctor to remove this and use other birth control options.
• Use a water-based lubricant during sex: If you use a lubricant during sex, make sure it’s water-based. Make sure you avoid spermicide if you get frequent UTIs.
• Change your clothing: Tight-fitting clothes can create a moist environment, which is perfect for bacterial growth. So, wear loose-fitting clothes and cotton underwear to prevent moisture from accumulating around the urethra.
• Medications: If you’re postmenopausal, you should consult with your doctor to get a vaginal cream that contains estrogen. These creams may lower the risk of developing a UTI by changing the pH of your vagina. Talk with your doctor if you’re postmenopausal and get a lot of UTIs.

These effective UTI treatment options ensure your infection is either cured or managed properly to improve your life quality. Make sure you notice your UTI symptoms early and take timely action to manage your condition and prevent severe complications.

Need help with a UTI? Visit our infectious disease specialist in the Brooklyn clinic to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!! Log on to  www.doralhw.org or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 to book an appointment.  At Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center, we have the best GYN doctor in Brooklyn, and we provide women with quality health care services. You can also visit our website at https://doralhw.org/department/gynecology/