Urinary tract infections can manifest as pain and burning sensations when you urinate. How can you prevent and treat them? We'll tell you more.
If there's one thing we'd definitely like to avoid, it's a urinary tract infection, also known as "cystitis." It is characterized by pain and burning sensations when you urinate and can lead to bleeding.
Urinary Tract Infection: What is it?
Simply put, in most cases, a urinary tract infection in women is an inflammation of one or more parts of the urinary system (kidneys, bladder, urethra, ureters).
The first signs of a urinary tract infection or cystitis can be:
- Burning sensations when urinating, but it can also manifest as bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
There are several types of urinary tract infections in women.
- The first is infectious cystitis, which is the most common in women. It is an inflammation of the bladder, caused by the proliferation of intestinal bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which are numerous around the anus, as stated by the Passportsanté website. This is why it is essential to have excellent intimate hygiene.
- The second is infectious urethritis. It occurs in most cases after sexual intercourse. Different infectious agents can cause urethritis, according to the specialized website. The most common are chlamydia and gonococcus.
The solution? Protect yourself during sexual intercourse, maintain good intimate hygiene for both men and women, and if in doubt, consult a doctor.
- The third, and probably the most serious, is pyelonephritis. This is an infection in the renal pelvis - the area in the kidneys that collects urine - and in the kidneys themselves. How is it caused? In most cases, it is a complication of an untreated cystitis. Bacteria from the bladder travel up to the kidneys and cause the infection.
Men can also suffer from urinary tract infections. In men, it manifests as prostatitis, in other words: an infection of the prostate. Prostatitis can cause fever, burning during urination, frequent urges to urinate, or difficulty urinating. It is therefore important to consult a doctor.
How to treat a urinary tract infection quickly?
At the slightest sign of cystitis, it is essential to consult a doctor and to closely monitor the evolution of the infection. A specialist will prescribe antibiotics for several days.
It is also advisable to drink plenty of water. This will allow you to go to the toilet quickly and thus eliminate bacteria as soon as possible. If the pain persists, consult your doctor again.
What mistakes should you avoid?
To avoid a urinary tract infection as much as possible, there are certain mistakes to avoid:
- Not urinating after sexual intercourse: the faster you go to the toilet, the less likely bacteria are to remain.
- Not having good intimate hygiene
- Not drinking enough water
- Holding in urine
- Wearing damp or too-tight underwear: this can facilitate the appearance of bacteria in the urinary system.
- Urinary tract infections can also appear during your period, which is why it is essential to change your sanitary protection regularly and to use the right products.
We therefore recommend wearing reusable sanitary pads or menstrual panties made of bamboo fiber, which will provide comfort, support, and protection. The website adoptemaculotte.com offers a wide selection of menstrual panties.