Why You Shouldn't Ignore a UTI

As many as 60% of American women have a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their lives. It’s therefore no surprise that UTIs are the most common infections that doctors treat every year.

Though UTIs are common, often mild, and easy to treat, they can cause significant complications if you attempt to ride them out without seeing a doctor. Our UTI specialists at Southeast Urogyn can diagnose and treat your UTI, as well as help to break the cycle if you suffer from frequently occurring infections. 

The signs of UTIs

It’s not always easy to know you have an infection in some parts of your urinary tract. It’s also easy for a UTI to be missed or misdiagnosed, particularly if you’re older, since many of its symptoms may be shared with other common conditions. 

Perhaps the most common signs of a UTI are issues with urination. UTIs often create a persistent urge to urinate that’s difficult to ignore. When you empty your bladder, you may feel a burning sensation, though you only produce a small amount of urine that doesn’t account for the strength of your urge. 

The urine itself may appear cloudy or it could show signs of bleeding, usually colors ranging from pink through red to cola-brown. Strong odors are also common, as is pelvic pain centered around the pubic bone. 

Common causes

The urinary tract has natural barriers to control the growth of bacteria, but these can sometimes be overwhelmed. UTIs are classed by the deepest part of the urinary tract that the infection affects. Most commonly, a UTI hits the urethra or the bladder. 

Both urethritis and cystitis generally start when bacteria from the gastrointestinal system invade, although unprotected sexual activity and its transmitted infections can also start a UTI. 

You may be more susceptible to UTIs when you have certain risk factors including: 

• Menopause
• Some types of birth control
• Genetic anatomy changes
• Blockages of the urinary tract
• Catheter use

Any condition or drug treatment that lowers immune system activity can also increase your risk of any bacterial infection. 

Complications of UTIs

Since UTIs are easy to treat, there’s no need to face complications of an infection penetrating deeper into your urinary tract. When you ignore a UTI, you risk complications such as: 

• Recurring UTIs exceeding four per year
• Increased risk of delivering premature or low birth weight babies
• Chronic kidney infection or permanent kidney damage
• Systemic infection, called sepsis, if the UTI progresses to your kidneys

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition in which your body has an extreme chain-reaction response to an infection that can damage or shut down critical organs. 

We treat most UTIs with a short course of antibiotics. Your symptoms vanish within a day or two, although you need to finish your prescribed course to completely eliminate the infection. 

Contact us at Southeast Urogyn promptly when you recognize the signs of a UTI. Our offices are located in Flowood and Madison, both in the greater Jackson, Mississippi, area.