UTI Symptoms in Women

The UTI symptoms in women are no different than they are in men or children. UTI represents urinary tract infection and if you have never had one, they are no fun. This type of infection can occur when you least expect it but thankfully can be resolved by a number of methods.

Definition

Other than "ow!" the definition of an UTI is when your immune system is low and your bladder and kidneys contract a germ which causes an infection. Although the urinary tract does consist of both the bladder and the kidneys, it's the bladder that takes the first hit. If the condition is not addressed, the infection will then spread to the kidneys. If treatment is received within a reasonable timeframe no harm will be done; however, if left untreated permanent damage can occur.

Causes

Let's get it out right now; women have more UTI issues than men. This is a given although there isn't a real answer as to why. One theory is that the woman's urethra (carries urine from the bladder and out of the body) is shorter in the female and therefore germs have less to travel than in a male's urethra. The worst part is that some women get UTI's quite often which can be very frustrating. There are a number of causes to have an UTI and some causes of UTI symptoms in women are:

    * diabetes
    * enlarged prostate gland
    * kidney stones
    * not drinking sufficient amount of fluids
    * pregnant
    * having sex

Symptoms

With many medical ailments today, the symptoms are very common to many different conditions so it is wise to step back and make a list of your symptoms and consider the possibilities. If there are any concerns, you should consult with your doctor. Some UTI symptoms in women are:

    * pain or a burning sensations when urinating
    * need to urinate often but little or no urine is released
    * urine looks cloudy and has a bad odor
    * pain on only one side of lower back under the ribs
    * fever/chills
    * nausea/vomiting

Diagnosis and Treatment

A sample of the urine will be reviewed to determine if bacteria exists and if so, then usually antibiotics are prescribed. It is very important to follow the instructions for taking the medication and finish all of the medicine to ensure that the infection has been completely diminished. In addition, it is very important to drink a lot of fluid especially water. This is to flush the system of the bacteria and to help the medication work through the system and do its job.

Prevention

This is probably the most important part of learning about UTI symptoms in women. It is important to know the symptoms but knowing how to prevent it is even more important. Some very easy steps to take are:

    * drink a lot of water each day
    * don't hold it; urinate as often as possible
    * urinate after sex
    * talk with your doctor about vaginal estrogen (postmenopausal women only)

There may be valid reasons as to why you can't get to the bathroom often (like at work) but there isn't any excuse for being lazy to not take care of yourself. Knowing the UTI symptoms in women hopefully will help you to prevent any future UTI's.

Understanding UTI Symptoms in Women isn't difficult to understand. For more info on Bladder Infection Symptoms and other Womens Health Issues visit: http://paulasbeautyshop.com/womens-health/