Urinary tract is the track that lines kidney, Ureters, Bladder and urethra. To be more precise it is the tract which stores urine. Any infection arising in this passageway is termed as Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). UTI can be marked by frequent urge to urinate and an irritant passing of urine that causes inflammation.
Women are more prone to develop Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) due to their physiology. Pain while passing urine, frequent urge to pass urine, pressure in lower belly, milky, cloudy or reddish urine are signs which gives identification to Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). In some cases low fever and tiredness are also symptoms of UTI.
Causes of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Where hygiene is a prime cause for suffering from UTI there may be plenty of another reason backing it. Some of the highly recognized causes of UTI as per research are as follows-
Bacteria’s are the major causative factor to give rise to UTI. Bacteria gathers from bowel in rectum area reaches urethra or urinary tract. Certain bacteria are also present in urine but all bacteria necessarily don’t have tendency to multiply and cause infection. Washing your anus after bowel in back to front may push up the bacteria into urinary tract.
Sexual Intercourse can thrust the bacteria through vagina inside the urinary tract with the penetration and motion of penis. Woman who change there partner more often are more at risk of Urinary Tract Infection than woman who have only one sexual partner
Procrastinating Urination can affects the muscles of bladder and gradually can give rise to UTI. When you hold back urine instead of immense pressure the muscles may get loose. Hence in future bladder is not able to expel whole of urine and certain amount of urine is hold back. And this stored urine can become a source of plethora of infection in Urinary Tract
Menopause or pregnancy can also be a reason for occurrence of Urinary Tract Infection in majority of woman.
Prolonged use of medication that tends to lower immunity or therapies like chemotherapy etc may also inflict the UTI
Diagnosis and Treatment
Women are more at risk for UTI disease pertaining to their anatomy. Bacteria’s are easily carried away due to little distance between anus and vagina and then urinary tract from vagina in females. Apart odd behavior in urine; pain and irritation can also help you in detecting the problem. You feel extremely annoyed due to the problem and stand frustrated with no solution. If these symptoms persist for more than a week than you shall get it checked with doctor. Though UTI is not serious but left untreated it can lead to severe complications of kidney specially. UTI is basically diagnosed with the test of urine. You may be asked to go for urine test and depending upon the quantity of white blood cells in urine sample your doctor will specify if you suffer from UTI.
Once you are diagnosed with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) most probably you may given an antibiotic course by your doctor. You may feel all symptoms wiped off after using the medicine for 1-2 day only but don’t surrender the treatment. Complete your whole medication as prescribed by doctor so that bacteria’s may not get re-energized due to lack of proper anti effects through antibiotics.
Self-Help Tips
- Wash from front to back after every bowel movement or urination
- Wear cotton panties as it will soak wetness and thus obstructs formation of bacteria’s
- Maintain good hygiene. Wash your genitals before and after intercourse
- Drink lots off water as it will flush off bacteria’s
- Don’t hold your urge to urinate. In fact it is also advisable to urinate soon after you have sex
- Avoid allergens and products to which genital skin can be sensitive like deodorants, perfumed sprays or soaps, powders etc
- Avoid unprotected anal sex and use birth control methods (diaphragms etc) very carefully
