UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) is the cause of the pain/burning sensation in the lower abdomen when passing out urine. It affects millions of women around the world. A UTI is an infection that is caused by bacteria getting into the bladder. The urine itself does not have any bacteria, even if it’s considered a waste product. The bacteria that gets into the bladder comes from outside. Women are at a higher risk of getting this infection than men. A UTI should be treated urgently because it can affect the kidney when left untreated.
Why do women have more UTIs than men?
The way God created women is different from how men are created. First, the anus is very close to the vagina and the urethra. The bacteria from the anus can easily navigate to the vagina and to the urethra, from there to the bladder. Second, the urethra is very short. If any bacteria gets into the urethra, it can easily get into the bladder. The urethra is the tube that takes urine from the bladder out of the body.
People most at risk of having frequent UTIs are those that fall into any of the following categories:
- People that are sexually active.
- Those who have sex with multiple partners.
- People around menopause.
- Elderly people.
Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection
- Urinary frequency: you will have frequent urges to pee, but most of the time you will only get a few drops of urine.
- Painful Urination: When the urine is coming out, you feel pain. A burning sensation in the lower abdomen.
- Urine mixed with blood.
How to treat a urinary tract infection at home.
- When trying to treat a UTI at home, the best thing to do is to drink plenty of water. If you have the symptoms during the weekend, good for you, but if you don’t, just take the day off work because you will be going to the toilet to urinate a lot. Visit your doctor or a pharmacist for medications.
- Another thing you should do is eat food that boosts your immune system.
How to Avoid UTI in Women
- Urinate immediately after sex and clean up. This will help flush away any bacteria and prevent them from getting into the bladder. If you don’t feel like urinating, drink plenty of water so that you can urinate.
- Try to keep the vagina clean at all times. After defecation, wash/wipe from front to back, not back to front. Do not hold your urine for too long. Avoid using public toilets.
Urinary Tract Infection during Pregnancy
UTI during pregnancy is fairly common but more serious because it can affect the baby’s well-being as well as the mother’s. Any case of UTI during pregnancy should be treated urgently by a doctor.
Can urinary tract infection cause death?
When a UTI is left untreated, it will find its way all the way up to the kidney and will turn into a kidney infection. From there, the infection can get into the blood, which causes urosepsis, which is very deadly. In this case, you will be rushed to the emergency room and left with no option but to fight for your life.
