Continuing our current blog and vlog series, our Family Nurse Practitioner, Sarah, is discussing common questions we hear from our patients here at Dove Medical.

Today we’re discussing UTIs: what are they and how do you know when you have one?

UTIs, or urinary tract infections, are very common – which is why we perform a urinalysis on every single patient that walks through our doors!

A UTI is an infection caused by bacteria entering the urethra (the opening that urine comes out of) and potentially travelling up to infect other parts of the urinary system. You may have also heard UTIs called bladder infections.

It’s important to know what causes UTIs so that you can know how to prevent them and what to do when you have one.

Usually UTIs are caused when bacteria from the rectum are introduced into the urinary system. This can be from improper wiping or not urinating after sexual activity. Constipation, dehydration, and holding your urine for long amounts of time without emptying your bladder are also common causes. I want to emphasize that a UTI does not make you dirty! Urinary tract infections especially common in women because we have shorter urethras than men. Plus, where we wipe is much closer to our rectum.

Urinary tract infections may have one or all of the following symptoms:

  • Pain or burning with urination
  • Feeling like you need to pee often
  • Small amounts of urine when you felt you needed to go really bad
  • A strong odor to the urine
  • Blood in the urine, and
  • Pain or cramping in the lower abdomen

Sometimes an infection travels up past the bladder and into our kidneys, becoming a kidney infection. When this happens, you may also have fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, and low back (flank) pain. This is more serious and may require stronger doses of medication and can even lead to hospitalization, so seek care expeditiously if you are concerned about a potential kidney infection.

Anyone having UTI symptoms should see a medical professional for a quick test of their urine, as antibiotics are needed to clear out the bacteria.