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Ask Etter: UTI

UTI is the common abbreviation for a urinary tract infection.  This is an infection that occurs in the urinary tract, which includes the bladder, kidneys, ureters (tubes that carry the urine from the kidney to the bladder), and urethra (tube that carries the urine from the bladder to outside the body).  This infection is caused by bacteria getting into the urinary tract.

Men have a longer urethra, so they rarely get a UTI.  If men experience symptoms, they should see a physician to be evaluated for other conditions which can cause similar symptoms, such as an STI, epididymitis or prostatitis.   

Ladies are more prone to getting a UTI because female urethra is shorter.

Common symptoms of a UTI include:

• pain or burning when you are urinating
• constantly having the urge to urinate
• having to urinate frequently many times in small amounts
• having blood in the urine; having bad smelling or cloudy urine
• pain in the lower abdomen.

The Health Center can quickly test your urine for a bacterial infection.  Sometimes a urine culture might need to be sent to an outside lab.  Because the office will need to collect a urine sample to test, it is helpful not to urinate right before your appointment.

If you have a UTI, an antibiotic will be prescribed.  Take it as it is ordered and do not stop early because symptoms have resolved.  Drink plenty of water to flush out your kidneys and bladder.  Some women take an over the counter medication to help relieve the symptoms.  If you choose to take this medicine know that it will NOT treat the infection, just ease your symptoms.  These medicines may also temporarily turn your urine bright yellow-orange, so do NOT take it before coming to the health center. Urine cannot be tested accurately when it is discolored.

There are some things that women can do to lessen the chances of getting a UTI:

• drink plenty of water
• do not “hold” your urine
• be sure to always wipe from front to back
• urinate before and after sex to flush out the urethra.  Spermicides, whether used alone as birth control or with a diaphragm or condoms, can cause bacteria growth and may contribute to a UTI, so you may want to consider a different method of birth control if you get frequent UTIs. 
• do not douche, or use scented sprays and deodorants, strong soaps, or other scented or potentially irritating feminine products in your genital area.  These do not cause infections, but are irritants. 
• wearing white cotton underwear, loose fitting clothing, and taking showers instead of baths can all help prevent the bacteria that cause the infection to be trapped in the urethra.

*Thank you to Etter Health Center for providing the content for this blog post.