4 Key Facts to Know About Urinary Tract Infections
A urinary tract infection (UTI), also known as a bladder infection or cystitis, is a common condition that can cause anything from mild inconvenience to a serious health emergency.
There are two types of UTIs: uncomplicated and complicated. Uncomplicated UTIs develop in healthy people with normal urinary tracts.
Complicated UTIs can affect the kidneys and ureters, posing a serious health risk.
This kind of bladder infection may affect men, expectant mothers, those with compromised immune systems and individuals who recently underwent surgery.
Below are four key facts you need to know about urinary tract infections.
Bacteria Causes UTIs
A urinary tract infection can involve any part of the urinary system: bladder, urethra, ureters or kidney.
You can have a urinary tract infection without showing any noticeable signs. If left untreated, the infection can spread to your kidneys and cause significant issues.
Women Are at Higher Risk Than Men for a UTI
Women develop urinary tract infections up to 30 times more than men and are more likely to have several UTIs. In fact, up to 40 percent of women will develop a second UTI within six months of the first infection. When someone develops two or more UTIs within six months or three UTIs within a year, that person can be said to have chronic UTIs.
An anatomical reason may make females more susceptible to UTIs. A woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s urethra, making it easier for bacteria to infect the bladder. Certain factors put some women at higher risk to develop infections of the bladder:
- Wiping from back to front when using the restroom increases the likelihood of bacterial transfer.
- Diabetes can weaken your immunity and cause nerve damage, which can make it difficult to empty the bladder.
- Sexual contact can transfer germs and bacteria. Using diaphragms and condoms with spermicidal foam can also increase risk of UTIs.
- Pregnancy can make it difficult to empty the bladder, and pregnancy hormones can change the bacteria in the urinary tract.
- Loss of estrogen due to menopause can thin the vaginal tissue and make it more susceptible to bacterial growth.
- Kidney stones can obstruct urine flow from the kidneys to the bladder.
- Using a catheter, a thin tube in the urethra, can increase the chances of bacteria entering the bladder.
Six out of 10 women will develop cystitis within their lifetime, and one in four experiences chronic UTIs.
UTIs Have Some Common Symptoms
Not all people experience the same symptoms, but some common symptoms of cystitis can include the following:
- Sensation of burning or pain during urination
- Increased frequency and urgency to urinate but with low urine output
- Blood in the urine
- Pressure in the pelvis
- Foul-smelling urine
- Urine that appears cloudy
- Feeling fatigued, confused, weak or feverish
Cystoscopy Can Diagnose UTIs
If you have chronic UTIs, your urologist may suggest a cystoscopy. A cystoscopy is a procedure that uses a fiberoptic camera to visualize the inside of the bladder and urethra. Besides diagnosing UTIs, a cystoscopy can diagnose bladder stones, bladder control, urinary retention and hematuria (blood in the urine).
During the cystoscopy, your doctor will insert a thin, lighted tube called a cystoscope into your urethra. The cystoscope has a small lens that will magnify the lining of the urethra and bladder. Your doctor will fill the bladder with sterile water or saline so the bladder will stretch and improve visibility.
Call Your Urologist to Make an Appointment
If you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI or changes in your urination habits, you should call your urologist. A consultation will help you determine the next steps for your health.
Multiple conditions may lead you to seek treatment and possibly surgery. For 40 years, patients have received safe, high-quality outpatient surgical procedures with increased savings and convenience at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the country.
Our ASC is committed to providing a great patient experience with highly professional service and the most advanced technologies available. Patients are discharged from our facility the same day as the procedure and recover at home.
Urinary issues can develop and change quickly, so don’t ignore your body’s signals. Call today to schedule an appointment.