Why does it hurt when you pee? Many of us google this question. Especially for women, the most likely reason is a bladder infection.
This is the most common type of UTI (urinary tract infection). So when we talk about urinary tract infections and cystitis, we often mean the same thing. However, urinary tract infections refer to any type of bacterial infection along the system that produces and excretes urine from the body.
bladder
kidney
prostate
urethra (pee tube)
Do not use antibiotics until you are sure you have a urinary tract infection
A few days of antibiotics clears most UTIs. But before taking antibiotics, it’s important to make sure you have a UTI. By definition, a diagnosis of urinary tract infection requires both:
troublesome bladder symptoms
A laboratory test showing bacteria in the urine
Are you concerned only with symptoms? Or is it just bacteria in urine? You won’t have a urinary tract infection after that, and you probably won’t need antibiotics, notes the urologist MD. She goes into detail about what to do and what not to do if your pee hurts. But first, she gives a little background.
Why women are more prone to urinary tract infections
Because of our anatomy, women are more likely to get a urinary tract infection than men.
Are you past menopause? It also increases the risk of cystitis.
I’ll explain why:
“The hormonal changes that occur after menopause alter the microbiome or bacterial environment of the perineum (the area between the anus and the vagina), which makes women more susceptible to infections.”
What does a urinary tract infection feel like?
What are the main symptoms? It hurts a lot when I pee. “People often complain of burning and pain when urinating, like a razor blade passing by,” she says.
Other symptoms include:
blood in pee
Feeling like you need to pee every 10 or 15 minutes
I feel like running to the toilet
fever and chills
Feeling very tired, especially if you have a severe infection
“A woman can also feel pain in her abdomen or lower back,” he adds.
What to do when piss blows
Go to your GP and get a urine culture. You have to pee in a cup. Then the laboratory looks for bacteria in the urine. Drink plenty of water to flush your urinary tract while you wait for test results. Talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, AZO, to relieve pain while peeing.
“It takes two to three days to get a urine culture result. If the result is positive and you have symptoms, you have an infection. Then you need to take antibiotics for a few days,” she says. What not to do when you piss
Do not take antibiotics while waiting for urine test results unless specifically recommended by your doctor. It just increases.
explanation:
“Antibiotic overuse creates a huge problem of antibiotic resistance. More and more people need IV antibiotics just to treat simple urinary tract infections.”
She adds: “Simple bacterial infections of the bladder don’t usually cause problems, even in older people. So in most cases, waiting a few days for urine culture results is fine.”
You have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but no bacterial infection? Talk to your doctor about other possible causes of your symptoms. It may be related to diet, stress, or other issues. Your doctor may do blood tests on your urine.
If you have blood in your urine but the urine test does not detect bacteria, be sure to see a urologist. Blood in the urine can occur due to:
inflammation
Kidney stone
Bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis)
Bladder or kidney cancer (rare)
“Compared to men, the diagnosis of bladder cancer in women can be delayed. Women often assume that blood in their urine is due to a urinary tract infection. I’m also less worried about blood in the toilet and it takes longer to see a doctor,” he says.
A urinary tract infection in men may indicate another problem
Urinary tract infections are less common in men. Men diagnosed with UTI (lower urinary tract symptoms + bacteria in urine culture) should consult a urologist after being treated with antibiotics.
A man can develop a urinary tract infection if he cannot empty his bladder. This can be caused by:
Prostatic hypertrophy
Decreased bladder muscle activity
Small ureter (urethral stricture)
How to prevent urinary tract infections Do not urinate
Drink lots of water – 8 glasses a day
Pee frequently, at least every 3 hours, to wash away germs. don’t hold it!
Maintain a healthy vagina – avoid ditching, spermicidal foam, diaphragms, feminine hygiene sprays, and powders
Take a cranberry supplement. Any commercial brand will do. Make sure it contains 36mg of proanthocyanidins (PAC) per day. “These are all evidence-based strategies for preventing UTI in people with recurrent infections (at least three times a year and twice every six months),” she says.
“Research shows that increasing fluid intake and flushing the system can reduce the rate of urinary tract infections by up to 50%,” she says.
1. Don’t be the last.
Don’t drink a lot of cranberry juice to get rid of UTIs, as the juice has too much sugar and can make things worse. Cranberry supplements can prevent infection, but they won’t help if you’re already infected.
Also, don’t worry if your urine smells weird or looks cloudy. As long as you are healthy, you are not guaranteed to have a urinary tract infection. He added that it’s perfectly normal for urine to look and smell different from time to time.
