An often not discussed, but fairly common problem for women is urinary tract infections or otherwise named UTI’s This can in fact be quite a serious problem for women. It is true that UTI’s are a serious health problem and millions of people suffer from this each and every year. It is known that this infection is the second most common infection in the human body and it is more likely that women will suffer from UTI’s than will men. Figures show that twenty percent of women develop a UTI at least once in their lifetime.
If one were to investigate the whole urinary system you would know that, the kidneys and bladder are an vital part of human health. For instance, the kidneys take away excess liquid and other wastes from the blood and change it into urine. As a result, a stable balance of salts and minerals is maintained in the blood.
As well the kidneys also play an important role in producing a hormone that is partly responsible for the formation of red blood cells. A number of channels between the kidney and the bladder serve to remove the waste products from of the human body.
As a rule, urine is sterile and thus cannot cause an infection. However, occasionally there are bacteria that make their way into the urinary tract system and once there they can multiply quickly. When bacteria multiply, an infection is created. It is true that an infection can begin in any section of the urinary system. The official name for an infection in the bladder is called cystitis.
As a rule, the urinary system is beautifully designed so that severe infections will mostly be prevented. This happens because the ureter and bladder prevent urine from backing up into the kidneys and the urine and as a result of this flow bacteria are removed from the body. Nevertheless, it is still possible that a person can still develop an infection.
It is helpful for women to be aware that if they had three urinary tract infections, then they will develop more. Figures show that 90 percent of these women who have suffered three infections will most likely get another one within 18 months. If you are a woman who has had several urinary tract infections, then you can request that your physician prescribe low dosage antibiotics that can be taken up to half a year at a time. It is also possible for you to take a single dose of antibiotic after intercourse or take a small amount of antibiotics when symptoms occur. The best thing for you to do is speak to your physician about it.
Another alternative to going to the doctor’s or physician would be to purchase a dipstick. These are now available to purchase over the counter. It is found that these dipsticks detect 90 percent of all urinary tract infections when used with the first urine sample after waking.
There are certain actions which a woman can take which will reduce the risk of having another one within a short amount of time. A simple, but important action is making sure you drink a large amount of water each day. Another important thing to remember is to urinate whenever you have the urge, do not hold it in for long periods of the day. Make sure you wipe from front to back after using the toilet. As a result bacteria will not move from the anus area to the the vaginal area and as a result into the urinary tract system.
Another recommendation is to shower instead of taking a bath because water in the bath tub stays too long around your urinary system and as a result can spread. An extra precaution you can take is to cleanse the genital area before you have intercourse. This minimizes the amount of bacteria which will enter your system.
Certain soaps, douches and feminine hygiene products can irritate the urethra area. It is good to be aware of this as you may need to no longer use them.
Pregnant women should know that UTI’s need to be treated immediately these infections can result in premature delivery of the baby as well as high blood pressure. Certain antibiotics are not to be used during pregnancy which makes treating urinary tract infections a little more difficult. Education about this can lead to us all being much healthier women.
