Half of all women have a UTI at least once in their life and more than 80% of these women experience it more than once.
Let’s have a closer look at what’s happening in our female bodies and how we can prevent it!
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are annoying and can be painful. Symptoms include more frequent and urgent need to urinate, pain or burning when urinating, low-grade fever, pressure or cramping in the lower abdomen and groin area, change in the smell or color of urine, and, cloudy to sometimes bloody urine.
Nearly 50% (!) of all women will develop a UTI at least once in their lives and for many it is a recurring problem. In addition to some other bacterial species as well as the fungus Candida albicans, more than 85% of UTIs are caused by the E. Coli bacteria. And because E. coli often passes into the urinary tract through feces, women are extra vulnerable to UTIs; their urethra is close to the anus and is also a lot shorter than in men, so that the bacteria can reach the bladder or kidneys more quickly. That is why hygiene tips such as wiping the bum from front to back and urinating after sexual activity do have their usefulness. Once in the urinary tract, the E. Coli bacteria clings to the cells, grows and causes infection. A (temporarily) weakened immunity or resistance to certain antibiotics can further exacerbate the problem.
What can you do?
Of course you don’t want to leave a urinary tract infection untreated. Not only is it often a very annoying condition, you want to avoid the risk of kidney infection or even sepsis (blood poisoning) in severe UTIs at all costs. Antibiotics are (sadly) often used as first-line treatment, with all the side effects (such as disturbance of the intestinal flora, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, impaired liver function) and the associated risk of developing resistance. These are often combined with painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. However, 25-42% of mild UTIs clear up on their own, often with the help of a few simple tips. For example, it is recommended to drink extra water, which dilutes the urine and makes it more difficult for bacteria to enter and infect the urinary organs. You should definitely not hold your urine – urinating more often helps flush the bacteria out of the urinary tract.