Do you know? Women experience UTIs more in their lifetime as compared to men
Medanta
What is meant by Urinary tract Infection?
A urinary tract infection, which is often known as a UTI, is an infection that affects any area of your urinary system, including your bladder, ureters, kidneys, and urethra.
If you’re a woman, you’re more likely to have a urinary tract infection.
According to some experts, your lifetime risk of developing one is as high as 1 in 2, with many women experiencing many infections over the course of years. While in cases of males number is less, 1 out of 10 get affected by UTI at some point in their lives.
Here’s how to deal with UTIs and prevent them from happening in the first place. And for that you need to know about what are the symptoms caused by UTI.
Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection
- A burning sensation when you pee
- An acute or frequent urge to pee, even if little comes out when you do
- Cloudy, dark, crimson, or strange-smelling pee
- Feeling exhausted or shaky
- Fever or chills (a symptom that the infection has spread to your kidneys)
- Back or lower abdomen pain or pressure
UTIs have different types
Infections can occur in several regions of the urinary tract.
Depending on where it is found, each type has a different name.
- Cystitis (bladder): You may feel compelled to pee frequently or that peeing hurts.
Lower belly ache and murky or crimson urine are also possible symptoms.
- Pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation): This can result in a fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the upper back or side.
- Urethritis (urethra): When you pee, you may notice a discharge and a burning sensation.
Culprit behind Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Doctors advise women to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom to prevent UTIs. The anus is near to the urethra, which transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. Bacteria, such as E. coli, can sometimes make their way into your urethra through your anus. They can then migrate up to your bladder, where they can infect your kidneys if the infection isn’t treated. Women’s urethras are shorter than men’s. As a result of this, Bacteria have an easier time getting into their bladders. Sexual activity can also bring bacteria into your urinary tract.
Because of their DNA, some women are more prone to UTIs. Others are more likely to become infected because of the form of their urinary tracts. Women with diabetes may be at an increased risk because their immune systems are weaker, making them less able to fight infections. Hormone changes, multiple sclerosis, and anything that impairs urine flow, such as kidney stones, a stroke, or a spinal cord injury, can all increase your risk.
