Urinary Tract Infections in Women

Three Types of UTIs

• Cystitis:A bladder infection (cystitis) is the most common UTI in women. You may have urgent or frequent urination. You may also have fever, pain, burning when you urinate, and bloody urine.

• Urethritis: This is an inflamed urethra. You may have lower stomach or back pain. You may also have urgent or frequent urination.

• Pyelonephritis:This is a kidney infection. If not treated, it can be serious and damage your kidneys. In severe cases, you may be hospitalized. You may have a fever and upper back pain.

Medications to Treat a UTI

Most UTIs are treated with antibiotics. These kill the bacteria. The length of time you need to take them depends on the type of infection. It may be as short as 3 days. If you have repeated UTIs, a low-dose antibiotic may be needed for several months. Take antibiotics exactly as directed. Don’t stop taking them until all of the medication is gone. If you stop, the infection may not go away, This can make it much harder to treat.

Lifestyle Changes to Treat and Prevent UTIs

The lifestyle changes below will help get rid of your UTI. They may also help prevent future UTIs.

• Drink plenty of fluids. This includes water, juice, or other caffeine-free drinks. Fluids help flush bacteria out of your body. Cranberry juice (or tablets) may help keep an infection from coming back.

• Empty your bladder.Always empty your bladder when you feel the urge to urinate. And always urinate before going to sleep. Urine that stays in your bladder can lead to infection. Try to urinate before and after sex as well.

• Practice good personal hygiene.Wipe yourself from front to back after using the toilet. Avoid bubble baths and scented or colored toilet paper. And use condoms during sex. They help prevent UTIs caused by sexually transmitted bacteria.

• Keep follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider. He or she can check that the bacteria are gone. And new treatment can be started if problems happen again.