A Look into Female Urinary Tract Infections

As dreadful as it seems, urinary tract infections or UTI is common in both males and females, although it is the women who experience the greatest discomfort. Urinary tract infection refers to disorders affecting the urinary tract. It may be caused by bacterial infection due to poor hygiene, or as a result of sexual intercourse.

Luckily, despite being painful, the majority of urinary tract infections are not serious. Some women experience only one case of UTI in a lifetime, while others may experience multiple infections. The good news with UTI is that they can be easily treated with antibiotics, which can make the symptoms disappear easily.

Causes of Urinary Tract Infection

The most common causes of UTI in women are the bacteria in the vaginal area or from the bowel that thrives on the skin near the rectum. Once these bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra, they can travel upwards and cause infection to the bladder and other areas of the urinary tract.

Another cause of urinary tract infection in women is through sexual intercourse. Because of the nature of the motion of the penis, bacteria in the vaginal area are sometimes pressed into the urethra. This is one of the reasons why females are more prone to UTI than men through sexual intercourse.

Another cause of UTI is waiting too long to urinate. When a woman waits a long time before urinating, it may cause her bladder to stretch beyond its capacity and weaken. When the muscles of the bladder are weakened, it may result in not being able to completely empty the bladder of all the urine. The remaining urine may cause the development of a UTI.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection

1) There is a strong urge to urinate but you can only manage a few drops.

2) Pain and burning sensation in the urethra when urine is released. In most cases, the urine may even be tinged with blood;

3) A more severe problem happens when the bacteria causing the infection enters the kidney. When this happens, the patient may feel back pain, fever, nausea, and chills.

Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection

1) Wear panties made of cotton. Cotton allows moisture to escape while other materials may trap it, causing growth of bacteria and worsen the infection.

2) Drink plenty of vitamin C from fruit juices. This is vital in reducing the risk of urinary tract infection because vitamin C helps neutralize the bacteria causing the infection.

3) Practice personal hygiene. Always wipe with a clean tissue from front to back after urinating or moving your bowels. Moreover, always make it a habit to wash the skin around the rectum and vagina daily. Washing before and after sexual intercourse will also significantly reduce the risk of urinary tract infection.

4) Make sure that you drink sufficient fluids every day. This will help flush out bacteria from your system that may otherwise cause UTI.

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