When to see a doctor about a recurring UTI

More than half of all women will experience a urinary tract infection at one point in their lives. In fact, UTIs account for more than eight million doctor visits each year, making it the second most common type of infection in the body. UTIs are a normal, albeit uncomfortable, part of life, and if you learn what to do for a UTI and treat accordingly, you can prevent UTIs from coming back. However, some women aren’t so lucky, and despite their best efforts, they experience recurring UTI. If you suffer from recurring UTIs, you may wonder how to avoid UTIs, preferably without taking antibiotics.

What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

A UTI is an infection of the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra, which all make up the path in which urine passes through before it is eliminated by the body.

The kidneys, which are the small pair of organs that sit on either side of the spine at the back of waist level has several vital functions in the body, including removing waste and any excess water from the blood as urine. Kidneys are also very sensitive to blood sugar levels and blood pressure so both diabetes and hypertension can damage these organs.

You have two ureters in the body, which drain urine from each kidney to the bladder.

The bladder, which is like a small sac, collect and stores the urine, and when the bladder is full, we expel the urine from our bodies.

The urethra connects the bladder with the outside of the body, and the urinary sphincter, which is located at the junction of the bladder and urethra needs to relax at the same time the bladder contracts to remove the urine from the body.

The upper urinary tract is made up of the kidneys and the urethra so a UTI affects typically the kidneys (pyelonephritis), which can cause fevers, chills nausea and vomiting, as well as other severe symptoms.

The lower urinary tract is composed of the bladder, and the urethra and a urinary tract infection in the lower urinary tract can affect the urethra (urethritis) or the bladder (cystitis).

The further up the urinary tract the infection is located, the more serious the UTI is.

What causes a UTI?

When bacteria gets into the urine and begin to grow, then infection occurs. The bacterial infection generally starts at the start of the urethra where the urine leaves the body and then moves upward into the urinary tract. The biggest culprit and one that accounts for around 9/10s of less severe UTIs is E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon and around the anus. Bacteria can move from the anus and up to the opening of the urethra. This can happen if you don’t wipe from front to back when going to the toilet or when during sex. Generally, if you empty the bladder after sex, this flushes typically out the bacteria from the urethra, however, if there are too many bacteria, then urinating may not stop the UTI. The infection can be spread further if the bacteria then move up to the bladder via the ureters. If they reach the kdney then they cause a kidney infection which can become very serious if not treated properly and develop into chronic UTI.

UTI pain – signs and symptoms

If you experience a lower urinary tract infection, which are infections of the bladder and urethra, then you will experience at least one of the following symptoms:

• Pain or burning during peeing (dysuria)
• The urge to pee more, but only expel a small amount of urine  – waking up during the night to urinate is called nocturia
• The urethra and bladder lining becomes irritated and inflamed
• Cloud, bad-smelling urine or blood in the urine
• Lower abdominal pain or pelvic pressure/pain
• A mild fever, chills and a general feeling of being unwell
• Burning when peeing

If you experience an upper urinary tract infection, then symptoms will develop quickly but may not include all the symptoms for a lower urinary tract infection

• High fever
• Shaking or chills
• Nausea the feeling of being sick
• Being sick/vomiting
• Pain in the side or back, usually on one side at about waist level

Pregnant women are at an increased risk for a UTI, but typically they won’t experience unusual symptoms. If you are pregnant, your urine should be checked during your prenatal visit because a UTI can cause pregnancy complications. It is essential to consult your doctor within 24 hours of noticing the first symptoms so that the UTI can be treated as soon as possible.

What is a recurring UTI?

Recurring UTIs affect approximately 20 to 30 per cent of the adult women population. The ‘recurring’ definition points to women who experience three or more UTIs in a single year, or two UTIs within six months. Having said that it is essential to distinguish between frequent UTI in women and chronic UTI, as a chronic UTI is one that persists after antibiotics.

Recurring UTI occurs for the same reasons — bacterium travels up the urinary tract, typically after sex. Some individuals who use catheters may have an increased risk for recurring UTI as well.

Home remedies for UTI

It is essential to keep your urinary tract health up daily, and there are ways do that at home. There are studies that state probiotics for UTI can prevent recurring infections. Cranberry juice and specific herbs can be used as remedies for a urinary tract infection, as well as other UTI remedies which can help fight and prevent a UTI, like a hot water bottle to ease the pain and drinking plenty of liquids, especially water, to flush out the bacteria. Avoid coffee, alcohol and spicy foods as these can irritate the bladder.

When should you see a doctor?

Using at-home self-care UTI remedies like wiping front to back, urinating after sex, drinking plenty of fluids and taking a preventative medication post-sex regularly can help to prevent and reduce symptoms. But as soon as you recognise that you may have a UTI, you should speak to your doctor straight away who will make a UTI diagnosis and talk to you about recurrent UTI prevention. Some women require low-dose UTI medicine like preventative antibiotics depending on the frequency or triggers of their infections. For instance, if you develop UTIs after intercourse, your doctor may prescribe you the best antibiotic for UTI to be taken after sex. For women whose triggers are uncertain, you may recommend a daily low-dose antibiotic for recurrent UTI treatment.

What are the alternatives?

Fortunately, if you have persistent UTI symptoms even after treatment, there are safe and effective alternatives to antibiotics. Uqora offers solutions that target UTI-causing bacteria and increase urine production, thereby helping your body flush out harmful bacteria before it has the chance to travel up the urinary tract. Ingredients such as vitamin C and B6, magnesium, calcium and potassium serve to boost the immune system at the same time.

If you’re looking for an alternative that works, think outside the box. Talk to your doctor straight away and discuss the right alternative for you, if you have tried everything in your power to stop recurring UTIs. But, don’t leave it as urinary tract infections can quickly become worse!

*Collaborative feature post*