Favorite Site For Urinary Health Podcasts
Podcasts arent just for politics, laughs, and murder mysteries. The American Urological Association has a fantastic one called, aptly, the Urology Care Podcast, which covers topics like sexual health myths, UTIs, prostate cancer, and more. Currently there are more than 140 episodes to listen to, ranging from about 4 minutes to 28 minutes long.
What Can I Do To Control Frequent Urination
There are several lifestyle changes and non-medicated ways to manage your frequent urination. These can include:
- Avoiding drinking fluids before going to bed.
- Limiting the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink.
- Doing Kegel exercises to build up strength in your pelvic floor. These muscles support the organs in the pelvis, including your bladder. Kegel exercises are often prescribed to women after childbirth because of the stress having a baby places on the pelvic floor muscles.
- Wearing a protective pad or underwear to avoid leaks. This is a short-term solution that can help you keep living your life while your condition is being treated.
You Dont Pee After Sex
The threat of getting a UTI shouldnt stop you from getting it on. But that doesnt mean resigning yourself to the afterburn.
One simple way to cut your risk: Head to the potty after youve finished your romp. Youll possibly flush out the bacteria that may have made their way into your urinary tract. Urinary Tract Infection. .
Read Also: Catheterization Of Female Urinary Bladder
How Is A Uti Diagnosed
To find out whether you have a UTI, your doctor or nurse will test a clean sample of your urine. This means you will first wipe your genital area with a special wipe. Then you will collect your urine in midstream in a cup. Your doctor or nurse may then test your urine for bacteria to see whether you have a UTI, which can take a few days.
If you have had a UTI before, your doctor may order more tests to rule out other problems. These tests may include:
- A cystogram. This is a special type of x-ray of your urinary tract. These x-rays can show any problems, including swelling or kidney stones.
- A cystoscopic exam. The cystoscope is a small tube the doctor puts into the urethra to see inside of the urethra and bladder for any problems.
What To Do About Changes When You Urinate
Narrator:What to do about changes when you urinate caused by radiation therapy.
Having problems when you urinate? Listen to solutions from other people undergoing radiation therapy. Also, hear advice from Dr. Ross. Then talk with your own doctor or nurse to learn more.
Miguel:Tip number 1: Drink lots of liquids each day.It’s good for your urine to be clear or a pale yellow color. My doctor says that tells you you’re getting enough liquids. Most people find drinking about 8 cups of liquid a day does the trick. Of course, check to make sure that’s the best amount for you, too.
Cara:Tip number 2: Water is wonderful, but you may want more zip in your sip.I like water, but found it was hard to get enough water each day. I was glad to learn that Jell-O and soups also count as liquids. To add some zip to what I drink, I have water with a little lemon and watered-down juices.
Rodney:Tip number 3: Lose the booze.My doctor told me that wine, liquor, or even beer could really bother my bladder. So now I limit these liquids. Some people may need to stay away from wine, liquor, and beer altogether to avoid irritating their bladder.
My doctor also told me to stay away from caffeine in coffee, colas, or teas. They could make my bladder problems worse. I now choose flavored decaf coffees and tasty herbal teas.
Dr. Ross:Hi, I’m Dr. Ross and you just heard 3 great tips to keep bladder problems under control.
Related Resources
- January 23, 2020
Read Also: Best Remedy For Urinary Tract Infection
Can Urinary Tract Infections Be Prevented
These steps may help reduce the chance of getting UTIs:
- Drink plenty of water every day.
- Drink cranberry juice. Large amounts of vitamin C limit the growth of some bacteria by acidifying the urine. Vitamin C supplements have the same effect.
- Urinate when you feel the need. Do not wait.
- Take showers instead of tub baths.
- Clean the genital area before and after sex, and urinate shortly after sex.
- Women should not use feminine hygiene sprays or scented douches.
- Cotton underwear and loose fitting clothes help keep the area around the urethra dry. Tight clothes and nylon underwear trap moisture. This can help bacteria grow.
- Repeated bouts of urinary tract infections can be treated with small doses of regular antibiotics.
Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have about UTIs.
When To Call A Doctor
Get medical help at once if it hurts to pee and you also have any of these symptoms:
- Belly or back pain
This may mean potentially life-threatening kidney disease, a prostate infection, a bladder or kidney tumor, or a urinary tract stone.
You should also call your doctor if:
- Symptoms return after youâve finished treatment.
- You also have discharge from your or . This may be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease , pelvic inflammatory disease , or other serious infections.
- You have ongoing pain or a hard time peeing. This may also be a sign of an STD, a vaginal infection, a kidney stone, enlargement of the prostate, or a bladder or prostate tumor. Or it could be that the infection is resistant to the antibiotic your doctor prescribed.
Show Sources
Don’t Miss: How Do I Get Rid Of A Urinary Tract Infection
Key Points About Urinary Tract Infections
- Urinary tract infections are a common health problem that affects millions of people each year. These infections can affect any part of the urinary tract.
- Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
- The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad back or side pain nausea/vomiting and fever.
- Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Other treatments may include pain relievers, and drinking plenty of water to help wash bacteria out of the urinary tract.
- Other things that can be done may help reduce the likelihood of developing UTIs.
Favorite Sites To Find Docs
SWIU is all about supporting women urologists and the urologic issues that impact women. One of our favorite SWIU perks is their searchable database for prospective patients to find a local female urologist.
An excellent source for overall urinary health info, UCF also offers a tool to help would-be patients find a urologist near them. You can search by zip code, distance, and through eight urinary specialties, including pediatric urology.
Also Check: What Happens If You Have A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary Tract Infections In Men
Men can get UTIs, particularly if they have trouble with urine flow. Older men who experience prostatitis are at a higher risk. If the bladder is not emptying properly, the build up ofurine makes it more difficult to cure the infection.
A small number of young men may get a UTI. In males, this is usually the result of a sexually transmitted disease.
You Have Prostate Problems
An enlarged prostate can press against the urethra and block the flow of urine, which can cause the bladder wall to become irritable, says Dr. Nandi. The bladder can begin to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine, and that can lead to more frequent urination, he explains.
If men suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia, there is a need to urinate more frequently, especially at night. This condition is called nocturia, and it is defined as having to urinate eight or more times a night, he explains. Plus, when the prostate is enlarged, it puts added pressure on the urethra and bladder, which causes an inability to hold urine, but also difficulty with peeing at ease, he explains. Learn more about your prostate health.
Recommended Reading: When You Have Urinary Tract Infection
Will A Uti Go Away On Its Own
Some UTIs can go away on their own. A 2022 article states that some uncomplicated UTIs can resolve spontaneously without treatment, but that some people need to see a doctor to relieve their symptoms.
A person should always see a doctor if they develop symptoms of a UTI as they can progress into a kidney infection.
Is 994 A Fever For Covid
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists fever as one criterion for screening for COVID-19 and considers a person to have a fever if their temperature registers 100.4 or higher — meaning it would be almost 2 degrees above what’s considered an average normal temperature of 98.6 degrees.
Don’t Miss: Mrx Rc Feline Multi Urinary Calm
What Is The Urinary Tract
The urinary tract makes and stores urine, one of the body’s liquid waste products. The urinary tract includes the following parts:
- Kidneys: These small organs are located on back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters of your body removing waste and water from your blood. This waste becomes urine.
- Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
- Bladder: A sac-like container, the bladder stores your urine before it leaves the body.
- Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.
Children And Urinary Tract Infections
Symptoms in children are different from symptoms in adults. Urinary tract infections are quite common in children. While UTIs in very young children are often associated with an anatomic abnormality, for others the infection is related to introducing bacteria into the urinary tract. UTIs in children generally peak in infancy and then again between ages 2 and 4, coinciding with potty training.
In newborns, signs of urinary tract infection include poor feeding, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, mild jaundice, and fever. For babies younger than 2, foul-smelling urine may also be a sign. For older children, the more classic UTI signs, such as urgency, incontinence, and pain while urinating occur.
Don’t Miss: Urinary Tract Infection What Causes It
You Have Interstitial Cystitis
A few signs and symptoms include: pelvic pain that is alleviated by urination, a persistent need to urinate, and frequent urination, says Dr. Landry.
According to Dr. Nandi, Most people will urinate up to seven times a day, but those suffering with interstitial cystitis may urinate as much as 35 to 40 times a day, and many times the actual act of urination will only produce a few drops of urine and the distracting sense of urgency may not always subside after going. This symptom will occur all day and usually throughout the night, which can cause problems with sleep patterns. Plus, pain might be present, and itll intensify as the bladder fills up, he explains.
Unfortunately, the exact cause of interstitial cystitis is not known, but many factors probably play a role. For example, there might be a defect in the protective lining of the bladder as a result, a leak in the epithelium might allow toxic substances in urine to irritate the bladder wall. Additionally, there might be a genetic cause or an infectious etiology, Dr. Landry explains.
Regarding treatment, not every patient will respond, she cautions. But your doctor might recommend the following: oral medications, nerve stimulation techniques, bladder distension , medications instilled into the bladder, surgery, or acupuncture, which might also provide some relief, she says.
Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms
In addition to antibiotics, many people seek natural, at-home remedies to help UTIs. A heating pad can relieve pressure and pain, and wearing loose cotton clothing is recommended. For those with recurrent UTIs, modifying certain habits may help: Choose fragrance-free personal care products to reduce the risk of irritation, and cut back on foods that can irritate the bladder caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, raw onions, citrus fruits, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners.
Recommended Reading: Urinary Tract Infection Pills Walmart
How Do I Know If The Treatment Isnt Working
If the treatment isnt working, your symptoms will stay the same, get worse, or you will develop new symptoms. Call your doctor if you have a fever , chills, lower stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. You should also call your doctor if, after taking medicine for 3 days, you still have a burning feeling when you urinate. If you are pregnant, you should also call your doctor if you have any contractions.
Why Do Women Get Urinary Tract Infections More Often Than Men
Women tend to get urinary tract infections more often than men because bacteria can reach the bladder more easily in women. The urethra is shorter in women than in men, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel.
The urethra is located near the rectum in women. Bacteria from the rectum can easily travel up the urethra and cause infections. Bacteria from the rectum is more likely to get into the urethra if you wipe from back to front after a bowel movement. Be sure to teach children how to wipe correctly.
Having sex may also cause urinary tract infections in women because bacteria can be pushed into the urethra. Using a diaphragm can lead to infections because diaphragms push against the urethra and make it harder to completely empty your bladder. The urine that stays in the bladder is more likely to grow bacteria and cause infections.
Read Also: Do Urinary Tract Infection Go Away On Their Own
Things You Can Do Yourself
To help ease symptoms of a urinary tract infection :
- takeparacetamolup to 4 times a day to reduce pain and a high temperature for people with a UTI, paracetamol is usually recommended over NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin
- you can give childrenliquid paracetamol
- rest and drink enough fluids so you pass pale urine regularly during the day
- avoid having sex
Some people take cystitis sachets or cranberry drinks and products every day to prevent UTIs from happening, which may help. However, there’s no evidence they help ease symptoms or treat a UTI if the infection has already started.
How Do I Know That Its Not A Uti
While UTIs and yeast infections can have similar symptoms at times, most UTI symptoms affect urination. They may cause a burning sensation when you urinate, or you may feel a need to urinate more frequently. Plus, a UTI is a bacterial infection in the urinary tract, while a yeast infection is fungal.
Weve listed some additional tell-tale signs and symptoms of a UTI below.
Recommended Reading: What Antibiotics For A Urinary Tract Infection
Recommended Reading: Peyronie’s Disease Urinary Problems
/6common Sign Of Covid Infection You Can Witness While Peeing
Coronavirus infection is not limited to the respiratory system. The virus that multiplies in the respiratory tract can affect other parts of the body affecting every organ and leading to a wide range of symptoms. Two years into the pandemic, we know how the contagious virus can affect our heart, muscles, brain and other sensory organs. Now new evidence has come to light that indicates how the virus can even affect the urinary system leading to urinary tract infections .
You Have Overactive Bladder Syndrome
This can be fairly common: People with overactive bladder syndrome might experience involuntary bladder contractions that lead to frequent and often urgent urination, meaning you get that urge even when your bladder is empty.
A frustrating situation, says Dr. Nandi, as it may also lead you to wake up once or more during the night to use the bathroom. The good news is that treatment for an overactive bladder can help. Try bladder retraining, says Nandi, which involves increasing the intervals between using the bathroom over the course of about 12 weeks. This helps retrain your bladder to hold urine longer and to urinate less frequently, he explains.
Some people find success with Botox, he notes. Botox can be injected into the bladder muscle, causing the bladder to relax, increasing its storage capacity, and reducing episodes of leakage, and several types of surgery are also available. The least invasive involve implanting small nerve stimulators just beneath the skin. The nerves they stimulate control the pelvic floor and the devices can manipulate contractions in the organs and muscles within the pelvic floor, he explains. Heres how to recognize 10 other signs you have an overactive bladder.
Also Check: Antibiotic For Women’s Urinary Tract Infection
Other Risk Factors For Urinary Tract Infection Problems And Symptoms
Especially as women get older, they experience some thinning of the tissues in the and bladder, and when you lose estrogen with menopause, the nerves dont function as well and the muscles dont contract as well, Dr. Rabin explains. All these changes can cause urinary leakage or difficulty emptying the bladder fully. Whats more, the easiest way to get a urinary tract infection is to allow the bladder to have high residual urine, she adds. Its better to empty the bladder completely to let it fill completely.
Being sedentary can magnify these risks because when you sit still, blood doesnt circulate as efficiently to the tissues, which may affect nerve and muscle function around the bladder. Plus, prolonged sitting is associated with reduced core strength and likely less work for the pelvic floor muscles that are used more when someone is standing, Dr. Brubaker notes.
RELATED: 5 Common Causes of Hip Pain in Women
If you have lower urinary tract symptoms, your best bet is to see a doctor to find out why. Various medications or health conditions including pelvic organ prolapse, and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons disease could be to blame, in which case youd want to treat the cause directly.
RELATED: What Are the Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis?