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Introduction to Urinary Tract Infections
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Common Symptoms of UTIs:
- Pain or Burning Sensation During Urination: One of the hallmark symptoms of a UTI is a painful or burning sensation when urinating. This discomfort is often described as a stinging sensation. It occurs because the lining of the urethra becomes irritated by the infection.
- Frequent Urge to Urinate: Individuals with a UTI often feel the need to urinate urgently and more frequently than usual. This sensation persists even if the bladder is not full, and it can be distressing and disruptive to daily activities.
- Cloudy or Bloody Urine: Urine may appear cloudy or even have a reddish or pinkish tinge, indicating the presence of blood. This discoloration occurs because the infection causes inflammation and irritation within the urinary tract.
- Foul-Smelling Urine: Urine infected with bacteria can emit a strong, foul odor that is noticeably different from the usual smell of urine. This odor is often described as pungent or unpleasant.
- Pelvic Pain in Women: Women with a UTI may experience pelvic pain, particularly in the center of the pelvis or around the pubic bone. This discomfort can range from mild to severe and may be constant or intermittent.
- General Fatigue and Malaise: UTIs can cause systemic symptoms such as fatigue, lethargy, and a general feeling of being unwell. These symptoms are the body's response to fighting off the infection and can make it difficult to carry out daily tasks.
- Fever and Chills: In more severe cases, a UTI can cause fever and chills. These systemic symptoms indicate that the infection may have spread to the kidneys or beyond, requiring prompt medical attention.
Understanding the Variability of Symptoms
Symptoms of UTIs can vary widely from person to person and depending on the severity of the infection. Some individuals may experience mild discomfort and urinary changes, while others may have more pronounced symptoms that affect their daily lives. The location and severity of pain can also differ, with some people experiencing primarily urinary symptoms and others feeling more generalized discomfort.
Preventive Measures
To reduce the risk of developing UTIs, individuals can take several preventive measures, including:
- Staying Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps dilute urine and flush out bacteria from the urinary tract.
- Practicing Good Hygiene: Wiping from front to back after using the bathroom can help prevent bacteria from entering the urethra.
- Urinating After Intercourse: Emptying the bladder after sexual activity can help flush out bacteria that may have been introduced during intercourse.
- Avoiding Irritants: Using gentle, unscented hygiene products and avoiding potentially irritating substances, such as douches or feminine sprays, can help maintain urinary tract health.
Our Treatment
Recognizing the symptoms of a UTI is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment. While UTIs are common and typically treatable, they can cause significant discomfort and, if left untreated, lead to serious complications. If you suspect you have a UTI, it is important to take a SheMed test where you will be connected to a clinician for proper evaluation, as well as, prescribed medication if needed. Early intervention will help alleviate symptoms and prevent the spread of infection to the kidneys or bloodstream, ensuring optimal urinary tract health.
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This following story is a 100% true cautionary tale about my dear friend whose family vacation was somewhat compromised due to her yeast infection not getting properly solved prior to departing America.
During my friend’s last week at home before departing to Europe for over a month, she spent ample time sunbathing and swimming as wanted to look and feel her best for the journey ahead.
Since she was leaving for such a prolonged time it also meant she had to soak up as many moments with her boyfriend as she could. Unfortunately this combination of nonstop swimming & swooning led her to develop a yeast infection. She knew something was wrong so she went to her gynecologist to receive tests for a UTI and a yeast infection.
Sadly, the gynecology office took over a week to get back to her and it wasn’t until multiple days into her travel that she received the news of a positive yeast infection test.
She felt uncomfortable, itchy, and overall sick, though she didn’t want to spoil the rest of the family’s plans so she kept quiet assuming they couldn’t notice, until one day, the infection made itself known.
The yeast infection had started to spread and my friend’s entire body was soon covered with a red uncomfortable rash. She was not only experiencing physical symptoms by this rash but she was also embarrassed to be out in public looking this way.
It was a complicated and long process to try and receive the correct medication for her situation. She tried a cream at a nearby Italian drugstore, and when that did not work she went to five other local drug stores near and far, with her father, trying to find an alternate solution while showing her diagnosis.
It wasn’t until her family moved locations to a larger city, two whole weeks later, that she was able to consult with a hospital. Even then, they were not sure what to prescribe and she had to do her own research and ask for a specific medication.
This story truly highlights the urgency of getting both tested and treated immediately when you are feeling onset symptoms to prevent spreading, and prolonged pain. Going forward, my friend has since been stocked up on our yeast infection tests, so she will never leave the country before receiving instant access to care again and treatment.
Google can be very misleading with at home remedies.
That is a lesson I have learned countless times before with at home hair dying, face masks, and more; but nothing solidified that lesson further than when my best friend and I turned to douching.
We both had serious boyfriends at the time and were having sex frequently. We were very open to talking about our sex lives and we would always share tips and tricks to improve the experience. One thing we were always conscious about was odor and cleanliness. We never wanted to feel embarrassed and always wanted to feel confident so we turned to the internet and tried many different outlets that were in our reach at home.
One day as we were walking the aisles of CVS together we saw douches and remembered seeing them as a great option to keeping your vagina at its healthiest state, so of course, we decided to try it. From the packaging, our understanding was that it just gives a thorough clean, and there are no real downsides to trying it.
We were wrong!
After we got back to our dorms we were excited to try our new product so we went to the communal bathrooms and were dying of laughter from a few showers away about how we get so easily persuaded into these things.
The next morning is when we realized that we made a big mistake.
We were both dealing with the itchiest, most uncomfortable situation we have ever endured. We texted each other during class so confused what happened and wondering if we did something wrong.
It turned out that douching can actually cause an overgrowth of harmful bacteria that can cause you to develop a yeast infection.
After class we made our way to the health center and had to sheepishly admit what we had done as well as call our moms so they were aware what the medication charge was for.
Thankfully any young women who get bold with online suggestions can now purchase SheMed’s Bundle and be prepared for any aftermath from the comfort of your own home.