Did you know that ‘being a woman’ is a risk factor of contracting a UTI infection? Yes, apart from all the trouble that women go through on their periods and during pregnancy, this is another in the list. In fact, statistics show that UTI causes troubles to thirty times more women than men. A man’s physiology is certainly not their fault, neither is a woman’s physiology to be blamed. It is just so that nature requires women to be more careful about their genital hygiene. UTI symptoms are almost similar in both male and female physiology but genital anatomy of a woman can expose her to UTI and it is very much possible that she gives herself a UTI while using the restroom of her own house.
There are multiple reasons why you can get UTIs but there has to be knowledge about basic hygiene and ways in which you can avoid catching a UTI. By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what are the most common UTI causes and how to know whether you have one;
What is a UTI?
UTIs are a kind of infection that affect the urinary tract in humans. These infections are caused by bacteria that are able to make their way into the urinary tract. UTI causes the urethra and the bladder to get perforated or inflamed. UTIs need to be diagnosed or caught in an early stage to prevent it from becoming a painful infection once it reaches the kidneys through the bladder.
There is a myth about UTIs that states that they are caused by unclean urine. Whereas the fact is that our urine is always sterile and washes out the bladder and urethra while disinfecting it. Dehydration, however, can be a cause for UTIs as there is very less urine production and the bladder is easier to get infected by bacteria. In women, the pangs of UTI are generally felt only after the bladder has been infected as the urethra in women is shorter.
UTIs are caused mostly by the bacteria E. coli (Escherichia coli) found in human stools, this bacterium finds its way to the urethra when you use an unclean or a toilet that is flushed right before you use it. Particles of filth carried from the toilet bowl that has been flushed sit on the urethra and even after rinsing, it can give the bacteria a ground for breeding. The urethra gets infected and by the time you know it, urinating already becomes a burning sensation and with time causes pain in lower belly.
What are the UTI symptoms in a female?
There are certain signs and symptoms which will let you know that you’ve got a UTI infection. Most of these symptoms are related to pains and disfunctions of the urinary system. Here’s what you need to notice, especially on the days when you use public toilets during your travels-
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A burning sensation or sharp pain in the urethra while urinating
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Passing very small amounts or only a few drops of urine
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Cloudy looking and/or terrible smelling urine
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Rusty, pinkish or reddish urine which seems like there is blood in the urine
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A strong continuous urge to urinate even though the bladder has been emptied recently
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Incontinence (uncontrolled and frequent leaking of urine)
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Fever after a day along with lethargy
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With women, there could also be a white or pus like discharge from the vagina
If the infection has reached the kidneys or bladder, there could also be a constant pain in the lower sides of the torso. Mostly, this pain occurs due to inflammation in the kidneys and bladder. At this stage, it is suggested that you go to a medical facility or meet your doctor as you might need a prescription for antibiotics to quickly ease the inflammation.
What causes UTI?
UTI is caused when bacteria is able to infect the urinary tract. The urinary tract is not just the urethra, it consists on the bladder and the kidneys as well. Hence, whenever you are faced with a UTI, sooner or later it causes the kidneys to get inflamed as well. UTI causes are known well by women who’ve even had an intimate skin infection, which is why they are cautious about using a public toilet or toilets that are new to them. Most UTI infections affect the lower urinary system in women and you can get to know early to prevent it from spreading to the kidney. The lower urinary tract consists of the urethra and the bladder, both of which can get infected separately. An infection of the urethra (the tube carrying urine out) is called urethritis while the infection of the bladder (the sac that stores urine) is called cystitis.
Bladder related UTIs are most common in women and happens through the urethra. The E. coli bacteria from the digestive tract is able to reach the urethra through the anal opening. This can happen due to an unclean toilet or because of improper self-cleaning practices. When a woman washes or wipes herself from back to front, the bacteria from the anal opening can get smeared onto the vaginal and urethral opening. This leads to both urethral and bladder infection. UTI infection of the urethra itself can also be caused due to sexually transmitted infections like herpes or gonorrhoea. The third and most advanced stage in when UTI reaches the kidneys through the bladder and causes it to get inflamed. This is known as pyelonephritis and can severely damage the kidney if not controlled. It causes severe pain in the stomach and can affect the function of the kidneys, causing harm to other organs of the body as well.
Most of the time, UTI symptoms in females are caused due to lack of cleanliness in the bathroom and during sex or improper practices of cleanliness which lead to UTI infections instead to barring them. The best thing that a woman can do is clean herself front to back with every use of the toilet and start using an intimate hygiene wash. However, the only way prevent UTIs is to build immunity against it ensure that inflammation due to recent infection is lessened. Namyaa Mutrakriccha UTI Syrup and Tablet is made with the rare and certified herbs used by Ayuvedic sages of old. It contains the power of herbs that can improve immunity against bacterial and fungal invasion through the urethra and vagina. It makes the kidneys stronger and improves the production of healthy urine which can flush the infections the same day, as if nothing happened.
