Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection

If you experience a burning sensation when you urinate, you may have a urinary tract infection. To reduce the risk of urinary tract infection there are some measures you can take yourself. Urinary tract infection affects women more often than men.

What is a urinary tract infection?

The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Urinary tract infection is a collective term for infections in the urinary tract, and involves both infection of the mucous membranes of the urethra (urethritis), cystitis (cystitis) and inflammation of the renal pelvis (pyelonephritis).

Catarrh of the bladder is an infection that occurs when intestinal bacteria, usually the bacterium E. coli, enters the bladder via the urethra. If an infection in the lower urinary tract is not detected and treated early, it can spread further upwards to the upper parts of the urinary tract to the kidneys and renal pelvis and cause pyelonephritis. In rare cases, a urinary tract infection can be caused by the spread of bacteria via the blood from other tissues.

Symptoms of urinary tract infection

• Frequent and painful urination.

• Burning and feeling of warmth in the abdomen during and after urination.

• Small amounts of urine when urinating.

• The urge to urinate even if the bladder is empty.

• The urine may smell, be cloudy and/or slightly red (blood).

• Pain, most often in the lower back.

As long as the infection is located in the urethra or bladder, you usually feel otherwise in good shape. If the infection has spread to the upper parts of the urinary tract, you often have a reduced general condition with fever, chills and pain over the kidneys and in the pelvis (one or both sides of the abdominal region and/or the back).

Who is most susceptible to urinary tract infection?

• Women are more often affected by urinary tract infections than men. This is because they have a shorter urethra and the urethra is closer to the anus.

• Men who are frequently affected by urinary tract infections should be examined to find out if there is an underlying cause such as prostate-related problems or kidney stones. Read more about urinary tract infection in men here.

• During menopause, women get thinner and drier mucous membranes due to reduced estrogen levels in the body, and are therefore more susceptible to infections.

• Pregnant women get urinary tract infections more often than other women. This is due to anatomical and hormonal changes.

• Infrequent urination causes the bacteria to stay longer in the bladder, and this increases the risk of cystitis.

• Untreated diabetes leads to an increased amount of sugar in the urine, which provides better growth opportunities for bacteria in the urine

• Urinary catheters increase the risk of bacteria getting into the urinary bladder.

How to avoid urinary tract infection

• Drink plenty.

• Go to the toilet regularly. Do not linger unnecessarily if you have to go to the toilet.

• Women should urinate within 15 minutes of intercourse.

• The use of pessaries and spermicides should be avoided.

• Have good vaginal hygiene. Wipe from front to back when you are on the toilet.

• Avoid freezing your feet.

• Be careful not to freeze below. Do not sit on cold surfaces and change into dry clothes after swimming.

• Cranberries have not been shown to have any effect against urinary tract infections in large studies, but are old advice for women who experience frequent urinary tract infections.

• Menopausal women who suffer from vaginal dryness can try estrogen preparations that are used locally in the vagina. Such estrogen preparations help to make the mucous membranes thicker, more flexible and more moist. This can prevent urinary tract infections.

Do I have a urinary tract infection?

The diagnosis is made based on the typical symptoms, and a urine test will confirm whether there are bacteria in the urine or not. The urine sample you take to the doctor should preferably be from your morning urine.

You can also easily test yourself for a urinary tract infection on your own using a self-test. The test works so that you use a urine sample where you dip the test stick into your morning urine. After approx. After 60 seconds, you can read the result on the test stick. The self-test detects protein, nitrite and/or leukocytes in the urine.