Help! I Keep Getting UTIs

If you’re familiar with pelvic pain, trouble urinating, and pain and burning when you do, then you know the agony that is a urinary tract infection, or UTI.

These symptoms can be so uncomfortable that they may cause you to think of nothing else — simply getting relief is all that’s on your mind. 

Fortunately, the compassionate provider team at Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic has abundant experience helping patients suffering from UTIs. However, once you’re treated, they can have a tendency to return for some. We’ll delve into why in this post, but rest assured that we not only provide effective UTI treatment but also educate you on steps you can take to prevent UTI recurrence in the future.

Something no woman wants: a UTI

The biggest reason we get UTIs up to a staggering 30 times more than men is mainly anatomical. Because women have short urethras (the tube that releases urine out of your body) and urine is released relatively near the rectum, fecal bacteria are more likely to get into the urethra and cause a bacterial infection. 

If you have a bowel movement and wipe from back to front, you raise your risk of getting a UTI even more because you’re wiping bacteria toward your urethra. Having sexual intercourse can also set you up for infection, as can living with a compromised immune system, and using a catheter. Going through menopause also causes changes in your urinary tract that can set you up for a UTI.

Even though women are affected far more by UTIs, men aren’t immune to them, and their risk is raised if they have an enlarged prostate. Men are also more prone to kidney stones, and a history of kidney stones is a UTI risk factor as well.

UTI symptoms are also more wide-ranging than just pain, too:

• A feeling of urgency to urinate, but when you do, only a few drops come out
• An intense burning sensation while urinating
• Pelvic ache or pressure
• Lower back pain
• Almost a nonstop urge to urinate
• Cloudy or blood-tinged urine
• Urine that has a strong odor

A concerning danger is that a UTI can spread to your kidneys, and then you experience fatigue, fever, chills, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, and even nausea and vomiting. 

This is why it’s important to get a UTI treated ASAP.

Some women are plagued by recurrent UTIs — why?

About 25%-30% of women who experience a UTI get another one within six months, and there are several potential reasons for these repeat infections. 

Some women with frequent UTI recurrences keep getting reinfected by the Escherichia coli bacterium from the rectum, which is why wiping from front to back when going to the bathroom is critical.

As previously mentioned, menopausal urinary tract changes can cause a reduction in helpful Lactobacilli, a “good” bacteria, or probiotic, that helps fight harmful bacteria and infection. Additionally, at this stage in life, a woman’s bladder doesn’t contact as strongly when urinating, which inhibits complete emptying of the bladder.

In women of all ages, if they have a sister or mother who gets frequent UTIs, they’re more likely to as well.

A standard course of antibiotics typically banishes a UTI, and your Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic provider can prescribe pain medications if needed. However, if a UTI keeps returning, there are steps women can take to diminish their risk of recurrent UTIs, including:

• Staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids every day (shoot for 2-3 liters)
• Avoiding very spicy foods and opting for blander ones
• Watching your caffeine intake
• Easing up on alcohol
• Always remember to wipe front to back when going to the bathroom
• Urinating promptly after having sexual intercourse
• For women using birth control, choosing a method that doesn’t involve using spermicide
• If you’re postmenopausal, opting for vaginal estrogen therapy can help

Understanding why you may be more at risk for recurrent UTIs allows you to partner with your provider to reduce your risk for stubborn UTIs as much as possible. We’re here to help and are committed to providing customized treatment, education, and advice about lifestyle changes you can make to support your urinary tract health.

Whether you’re at your wit’s end with a long history of UTI discomfort or if you’ve just experienced your first infection, contact the Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic office closest to you to schedule an appointment for treatment, or book one with us online.