If you have an infection of your kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra, it’s diagnosed as a urinary tract infection (UTI). Women are at a greater risk of developing UTIs than are men. The team at Internal Medicine of Greater New Haven can diagnose and treat this painful condition before it leads to serious consequences. If you have symptoms that suggest at UTI and live in Cheshire, Guilford, Hamden, Milford, North Haven, Meriden, Wallingford, West Haven, and Stratford, Connecticut, or the surrounding area, call the office or book online for a checkup today.
Sometimes, UTIs are symptom-free, but you usually experience one or more of the following symptoms:
A urinary tract infection is due to bacteria that infects the bladder or the urethra. Women are at greater risk due to their anatomy — they have a shorter urethra than men, so bacteria have an easier time of making it to the bladder. Sexual activity also increases your risk of bacteria causing a UTI. Some birth control methods, such as diaphragms, put you at risk. When in menopause, women experience a decline in circulating estrogen and changes in the vagina that increase your susceptibility to infection.
If your urinary tract infection is caught early, antibiotics usually clear up the infection within a few days. Do take the entire course of the prescription to prevent it from recurring. You may also get a pain medication to ease discomfort until the infection clears. If you have frequent infections, the team may put you on low-dose antibiotics for six months or longer or recommend vaginal estrogen therapy if you’re post-menopausal.
The staff may also recommend changing your birth control method and offer a prescription for a one-time antibiotic to take after sexual intercourse if you suffer from recurrent infections.
You can’t guarantee you won’t develop a UTI, but certain precautions decrease your risk. Take these steps:
If you have pain when urinating and almost uncontrollable urges to urinate, make an appointment at Internal Medicine of Greater New Haven to get checked for a urinary tract infection. Call today or use the online booking system.
