More than half of women will suffer from a urinary tract infection in their lifetime (compared to 14% of men).
Despite its high frequency, it is usually an experience full of frustration and shamesaid Dr. Kalpana Gupta, a professor at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine who studies urinary tract infections.patients ‘They feel some personal responsibility’, it noted. “It’s like saying, ‘I did something wrong.'”
In most cases, a urinary tract infection (called bacterial cystitis) only has Has little to do with personal behaviorit noted.
The main reason these infections are more common in women is that they have The urethra is shorter than in menwhich makes it easier for bacteria to reach the urinary tract; UTIs in men are often part of a more serious health problem, Gupta said.
The vast majority of urinary tract infection cases are caused by: E. coli, which lives in the gut Sometimes it lurks around the perineum. How and under what circumstances the bacteria migrate to and infect the urinary tract “is not 100 percent solved yet,” he said.
Dr. Ja-Hong Kim, a urologist at UCLA Health, said many misconceptions about urinary tract infections stem from Lack of high-quality research on this topic. These are some of the most common questions patients ask experts.
If there is no burning sensation, is it a urinary tract infection?
possible.Urinary tract infections can occur anywhere in the urinary tract, including urethra, bladder, kidneys For men, there’s also the prostate, King explained. For a problem to be considered a urinary tract infection, the patient must have some symptoms and confirm the presence of bacteria in the urine.
Many of the best-known symptoms, e.g. Burning sensation and constant need to go to the bathroom“Coming from studies of young adults, college-age, otherwise healthy women,” Gupta explained. But in fact, symptoms can vary.
In older adults, urinary tract infections can present as fever Or satiety, he explains.
Some patients experience lower back pain, which is a sign that a urinary tract infection may be in the kidneys, which can make the condition more serious, leading to Sepsis and kidney damagealthough these results are “very, very rare,” King said.
Is it because I had sex?
unnecessary.Women are often advised to urinate before and after sex to eliminate bacteria, but this practice no evidence to supportsaid Benjamin Brooke, chief of urogynecology at NYU Langone.
“I don’t have any research that proves that peeing before or after sex reduces infections,” he said.
Interestingly, however, this may work for some women, she added.
The most common assumption is The link between sex and infection Gupta explains that a UTI occurs when bacteria from the perineal skin is pushed into the urethra during penetrative sex, which can lead to a UTI.
Another reason is that because products like spermicides alter the vaginal microbiome, they can create an environment where bacteria can grow. Flowers and migrates to the urethra. But some women never develop a UTI when they have increased sexual activity, even if they don’t urinate before or after sexual activity.
Is it a health issue?
Doctors often tell women to pay attention to hygiene, such as wiping from front to back, not wearing wet swimsuits for long periods of time, and avoiding tight underwear, to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
The idea is Wipe from front to back Reduces the chance of fecal bacteria entering the urethra and wet swimsuits or tight underwear irritating the vaginal area.
These practices are not harmful, but they are also not based on scientific evidence, Gupta said, adding that in urinary tract infection It ultimately makes women worry about their cleanliness.
“Most importantly, the risk of urinary tract infection It has nothing to do with how well you shower.” involves neither wet swimsuits nor clothing choices, he said.
Are antibiotics my only option?
Not always. “Imagine you’re hiking and you get scraped by a tree and your skin becomes a little red. You don’t have to go for antibiotics because your body can fight the bacteria,” Brooke explains.
“Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria just like any other illness,” many young, healthy patients find that their bodies Can eliminate bacteria on its own. Although antibiotics are part of the standard care regimen, it is worthwhile to obtain a culture first, which takes time to determine the best medical intervention.
In mild cases, good hydration can help the body get rid of the infection, Brooke said.There are over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, that can help Reduce discomfort When the body does its job.
Research published in April found that long-held belief cranberry It may make sense that urinary tract infections can be prevented.
In a meta-analysis of 50 randomized controlled trials, cranberry products -Juice, tablets or capsules-Reduced risk of UTI in women with recurrent infections, children with UTI, and people who are susceptible to UTI, but not in other groups such as men, older adults, or pregnant women.
In menopausal women, reduced hormone levels can change the vaginal environment and increase the risk of these infections. According to Brooke, in these cases, vaginal estrogen They can be an “excellent way” to prevent infection.
Translated by: Patricia Saar
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