Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common particularly in women, babies and older people. Around one in two women and one in 20 men will get a UTI in their lifetime. The kidneys control the amount of water in the blood and filter out waste products to form urine. Each kidney has a tube called a ureter, which joins the kidney to the bladder.
The urine leaves the kidneys through the ureters and enters the bladder. The bladder ‘signals’ the urge to urinate and urine leaves the body through a tube called the urethra. The urinary system is designed to minimize the risk of serious infection in the kidneys. It does this by preventing the urine from flowing back up into the kidneys from the bladder. Most urinary infections are confined to the bladder and, while causing symptoms, are not serious or life threatening.
Common UTI Symptoms
According to the health publication by Mayo Clinic Healthy Living PublicHealth, When you have a UTI, your urethra and bladder will turn red and become irritated and inflamed. If your UTI is simple, you will likely be prescribed a course of antibiotics for your infection.
You can expect to experience some or all of the following symptoms if you have a UTI:2
Urgent need to pee
Burning sensation or pain while urinating
Pain, pressure, or aching in the lower abdomen (pelvic area)
Cloudy, dark, or blood-tinged urine
Strong or foul odor in the urine
What Causes Urinary tract infections
Typically, any changes in hormonal levels will affect the urinary tract. Some of these changes may include:
Having a new sexual partner
Having your period
Pregnancy
Certain types of birth control, such as spermicide and diaphragm
Menopause.
What If It’s not a Urinary tract infections?
If you have symptoms of a UTI, chances are that’s what you’re dealing with. In some cases, though, these symptoms can also be signs of more serious health conditions.
Other conditions that can cause similar symptoms include:8
Bladder or kidney cancer
Prostate or penile cancer
Overactive bladder
Kidney stones
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Genital herpes
Vaginitis
Vaginal or vulvar cancer
Endometriosis
Bladder pain syndrome
If you have any one of these conditions, you will likely experience additional symptoms, including:
Fever and chills, Nausea and vomiting, Site specific pain, tenderness, or, in the case of STIs, irritation, breakouts, or sores, Erectile dysfunction, Unintended weight loss, Weakness or numbness in legs or feet, Loss of bladder or bowel control, Blood in semen.
A family history, physical exam, and lab tests can help your doctor determine the next steps and potential causes of your lingering UTI symptoms.
When to see a doctor
Although the body may sometimes fight off a UTI on its own, a person should see a doctor for any symptoms of a UTI, particularly if they are pregnant or have an underlying health condition that affects their immune system.
A person with symptoms of a kidney infection should go to the emergency room for immediate medical care. The symptoms of a kidney infection include: fever, chills, feeling very sick, pain in the middle of the back, especially when pushing on the area.
Other Risks of a Urinary tract infections
Hormonal changes aren’t the only cause of UTIs – they can also be caused by improper hygiene. A woman is susceptible to contracting a UTI when bacteria is spread by improper wiping after a bowel movement wiping back to front or by transferring bacteria from the anus to the vagina through sexual intercourse.
Regardless of gender, your chances of getting a UTI increase from other conditions as well. Some of these higher risks include:
Diabetes
Genetics
Kidney stones
Involuntary urine leakage
Bladder catheters
Bladder infection vs. other UTIs
The symptoms of a bladder infection, which people may refer to as cystitis, are very similar to those of UTIs in other parts of the urinary tract. As a result, it may be difficult to tell which part of the urinary tract has an infection based on the symptoms alone.
An infection in the urethra may cause pain and burning when urinating and discharge from the urethra, but bladder pain is not a symptom.
An infection that has spread to the kidneys will cause the most severe symptoms. A person with a kidney infection may notice the same symptoms as those of a bladder infection, plus fever, chills, and back pain.
Treatment is usually the same for all types of UTI, except for kidney infections. Treating a kidney infection may require a person to stay in the hospital. Kidney infections can cause serious health conditions, so anyone with these symptoms should seek treatment as early as possible.
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