Urinary Tract Infections in Women: Causes, Symptoms, Support

Urinary Tract Infections are a nagging yet common health problem in women. I'm sure you heard of someone who has had one, but do you actually know what it is? In this article we will go over what UTIs are, why they are common with women, causes, symptoms, and last but not least some home remedies you could use to avoid or help with UTIs.

What Are Urinary Tract Infections?

Urinary Tract Infections are caused by bacteria within the urinary tract. Many people think that Urinary Tract Infections are all the same, however, some UTIs can affect the bladder, and some can affect the kidneys. When you get a UTI in the kidney, it's generally way more serious than  when you get it in the bladder, but it's also way less common. The kidneys are further up than the bladder, and if bladder infections don't get treated fast enough, that's how they can turn into a kidney infection.

Are Urinary Tract Infections More Common In Women?

According to OASH, women are way more likely to get a UTI than men. So much so, that it's a 30 times greater risk for women than men. So why exactly are women so much more prone to getting them?

The Anatomy Of Women

After first glance it doesn't make sense as to why women are more prone to UTIs, however the main reason is because the male anatomy is much less prone to letting bacteria get into the urinary tract. This is because the male urethra is much larger than a woman's. So the distance bacteria has to travel in order to get into the urinary tract is a lot longer for men. Because of this, UTIs are much more common in women than in men.

What Are The Causes Of Urinary Tract Infections In Women?

There are many reasons women can wind up with a UTI. Below we will get into all the different ways you can get a UTI.

Sexual Activity

Sexual activity for women involves a lot of rubbing against a woman's genital area, this can cause bacteria to get into the urinary tract.

Pregnancy

Women who are pregnant are also more prone to getting UTIs. This is because when you urinate during pregnancy, your bladder is likely to still have remaining urine. The fact that you can't get out all of the existing urine could cause bacteria to stay trapped within your bladder.

Enlarged Prostate

Enlarged prostate could increase your risk for urinary tract infections. Similar to being pregnant, women with an enlarged prostate have a hard time getting out all of their urine, in return, bacteria will linger, increasing your chances for a urinary tract infection.

Having Bad Immunity

Your immune system plays a very big role in your body's defense of illnesses and infections. If your immunity is weakened or compromised, you're at a higher risk of getting urinary tract infections. Even if the amount of bacteria isn't all that much, some people

are particularly vulnerable to UTIs:

• People with diabetes
• Disabled or bedridden individuals
• Inflammatory bowel disease sufferers
• Women who are pregnant, have had multiple pregnancies in the past, or use a diaphragm for contraception.

Not Staying Hydrated Enough

As you could see from the common trend above, not being hydrated enough can lead to a lot of health issues, including UTIs. Not being hydrated enough could cause you to be constipated or stop you from being able to fully empty your bladder, leaving bacteria to stay trapped in the urinary tract.

What Are Some Common Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections?

There are many symptoms you should be aware of when it comes to having a UTI. That includes:

Burning Sensation While Peeing

This could not only make you feel a burning sensation while peeing, but you could also feel as if you always have to pee. Only to find out only a few drops come out. You could experience some bloody urine. This is because the bacteria could damage your bladder while it resides there, creating blood. Last but not least on the urine symptoms, you could also experience bad smelling urine.

Pressure In Your Lower Belly

you may also feel as if your pelvic area is a lot bigger than it really is. It will almost feel as if the lower belly is tight, causing pressure.

Have A Fever

Your body is trying to fight off the bacteria that has entered your urinary tract. Because of this, you may experience a fever and chills. alternatively, UTIs could also cause a low temperature.

Confusion and Drowsiness

Last but not least, UTIs have the ability to cause confusion. This is also known as delirium, and it's more common in older people than younger people with UTIs. Drowsiness on the other hand, is common in most people that have a UTI.

Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infections for Women

Now that you know more on the symptoms, as well as some of the causes...let's get into some natural remedies. These remedies include:

Probiotic Supplementation

Many women who get UTIs are often treated with antibiotic medications.

However, taking an antibiotic isn't always the best choice, especially if you're looking to make your urinary tract healthy again. Instead of going that route, a probiotic could be a good idea for a change.

 

Probiotics specifically containing L.crispatus, and or L. rhamnosus are thought to be especially effective when it comes to fighting off recurring UTIs. Adding this probiotic supplement into your routine could help keep the bacteria in your urinary tract at healthy levels and prevent UTIs from occurring in the future.

Using U.T Biotic

U.T Biotic has L Rhamnosus which was one of the supplements recommended above. U.T. Biotic contains 25 billion probiotics from seven different strains, all of which have been shown to improve urogenital health. In other words, it's an easy and helpful way to take care of yourself.

 

U.T Biotic also contains 150 mg cranberry concentrate. Cranberries are helpful in aiding in the prevention of getting a UTI and keeping the urinary tract healthy. If you already have a UTI however, cranberry juice won't help it go away any faster. Regardless, taking U.T Biotic will help because it contains many other helpful ingredients to naturally keep the urinary tract healthy.

Using Digestive Vibrance

Digestive Vibrance has everything you need to improve your digestion and bowel movements. It contains 100 billion probiotics, fermentable fibers, and a group of other ingredients that work together to give you the gut health you need.

 

If you want something that's a little bit more complete than U.T Biotic, Digestive Vibrance is the perfect option for you.

Hydration

In order to help you avoid getting recurring UTIs, you want to stay hydrated. You want to make sure you're constantly flushing out your urinary tract and preventing more bacteria from entering into it. Drinking plenty of water is the easiest way to do this, as well as other hydrating liquids such as coconut water or herbal tea.

 

One way to ensure you get the necessary water is by buying a jug that you could fill in the morning and drink by the end of the day.

 

This will ensure that you're constantly flushing out your urinary tract and keep it healthy.

 

This is a tip especially for pregnant women, who, as stated above, are more prone to getting UTIs.

Good Diet

Foods high in vitamin C improve your immunity, good immunity will set you up for success when it comes to fighting the bacteria in your urinary tract. Good foods to eat for vitamin C include: oranges, lemon (goes well in water), and bell peppers are good options.

 

You can even take a supplement version of vitamin C if you feel as if you will have a hard time getting it through your diet.

 

Any foods that are anti-bacteria including garlic, onion, and ginger are also good for fighting off UTIs.

Being Careful With Sexual Activity

Above we discussed that sexual activity can increase the chances of getting a UTI for women. To avoid avoid this you can start:

 

• Using protection
• Washing up shortly after sexual activity
• Letting the pee out of your urinary tract as soon as possible, this way you can release the built up bacteria
• Making sure your partner is clean before sexual activity is another way to reduce the chances of getting a UTI
• Don't douche after sex, it will only further increase your chances of getting a UTI. Just wash it with warm water and a mild soap to keep it clean. Your vagina will naturally clean itself, and the chemicals within the douche may throw off your vaginal flora, allowing for more harmful bacteria to grow inside.

 

Doing these things will help reduce your chances of getting a UTI after sexual activity, and help keep the bacteria in your urinary tract at healthy levels.

Exercise Frequently

It's been proven that exercising regularly helps to boost your immune system. Make sure the exercise is moderate and not too intense, as intense exercise may actually take a toll on your immune system.

 

Also it's important that you are able to clean yourself up after exercising. This way you're reducing the chances of bacteria entering your urinary tract and causing a UTI. There's nothing worse than damp workout clothes sitting on your body to help promote the growth of harmful bacteria. Some simple exercises you could try that are perfect for preventing UTIs include:

• Brisk walks
• light jogging
• Bike riding

In Summary

Now that we went over all of the different factors of UTIs and women, it's clear that there are many things you can do to stay healthy and avoid getting a UTI. Some of the most important factors include: taking probiotic supplements, staying hydrated, eating foods high in vitamin C, exercising regularly, and being careful with sexual activity.

 

Vibrant Health is a company that has a passion for bettering your health regardless of where you're at in life. The supplements are sourced from the best ingredients and proven to help with whatever health concerns you may have. We mentioned many supplements that may help prevent UTIs, and if you'd like to learn more about the rest of our products, take a look at our shop! We also have a blog filled with a lot of different health tips to help you on your journey.