Urinary tract infections (UTIs)—where bacteria infect the bladder or, less often, the kidneys—strike nearly half of all women in their lifetimes, and many are infected repeatedly. While UTIs are less common in men, men are not immune.
November marks National Bladder Health Month, designed to increase awareness of the importance of bladder health and to educate the public about common bladder conditions and diseases. According to the American Urological Association, urinary tract infections are responsible for over seven million doctor visits each year. Here are a few answers to commonly asked questions about UTIs.
What causes UTIs? The most common type of UTI occurs when bacteria travel up the urethra to infect the bladder. Women’s urethras are only about an inch long, while men’s are seven to eight inches long. The shorter journey to the bladder may explain why bladder infections are more common in women.
What should I watch for? Symptoms can include bloody or cloudy urine, strong urge to urinate frequently even with little urine output, painful urinations, fever or back pain.
How are UTIs treated? In most cases, a course of antibiotics can wipe out the infection. It’s important to treat UTIs because, untreated, the bacteria may travel from the bladder to the kidneys, causing a more worrisome infection.
What can cause repeat UTIs? Sometimes, there’s an abnormality that can trap bacteria, causing recurrent UTIs. “Repeat UTIs often occur when something is preventing you from emptying your bladder completely,” explains Anh-Hong Tran, M.D., a urologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. “The stagnant urine gives bacteria a place to grow.”
For men, problems can come from an enlarged prostate that’s keeping some urine in the bladder. Women might see problems as a result of bladder prolapse. People who have had strokes, or have diabetes may also have problems, since they don’t properly sense when the bladder is full.
Along with incomplete emptying, blockages such as kidney or bladder stones, or diverticula, can lead to repeat UTIs.
How can I avoid UTIs?
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Don’t delay urinating.
- Stop smoking, since nicotine can irritate the bladder.
- For women, empty your bladder before and after intercourse.
If you think you may have a UTI, see your doctor. If you need a referral to a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Plano, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.
UTI Facts
According to the American Urological Association:
- About five percent of visits to primary care physicians are due to UTIs.
- 40 percent of women will experience one or more symptoms of UTI during their lifetime.
- 12 percent of men will experience one or more symptoms of UTI during their lifetime.
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano is a 128-bed acute care hospital committed to serving North Texas residents with personalized care and advanced technology on a beautiful campus with hotel-like amenities and all private rooms. Services at the not-for-profit, fully-accredited facility include treatment for advanced spine deformities at the Baylor Scoliosis Center, neurosciences, orthopedics, medical and radiation oncology, surgical weight loss, women’s services, gynecology, urology, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, pain management, diabetes management and more. Patients have access to digital imaging onsite at Baylor Plano, the Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Craig Ranch, an outpatient department of Baylor Plano and the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano Elizabeth Jekot, MD Breast Imaging Center. The hospital is the first in North Dallas and Collin County to offer minimally invasive robotic surgery for procedures through the FDA-approved da Vinci® S Surgical System. Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano ranks fourth on U.S. News & World Report's first-ever Best Hospitals metro area ranking for the Dallas/Fort Worth area and was named a top performer by The joint Commission. Baylor Plano is also a 2010 recipient of the Texas Award for Performance Excellence and houses an Accredited Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commissions on Cancer. Baylor Plano is the first hospital in Collin County to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Jerri Garison is president of Baylor Plano. For more information, or a physician referral, call toll free 1-800-4-BAYLOR or log onto www.BaylorHealth.com/Plano.
About Baylor Health Care System
Baylor Health Care System is a faith-based supporting organization providing services to a network of acute care hospitals and related health care entities that provide patient care, medical education, research and community service. Baylor recorded more than 2.6 million patient encounters, $3.8 billion in total operating revenue, $4.4 billion in total assets and $513.5 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2010. Baylor’s network of more than 260 access points includes 26 owned/operated/ ventured/affiliated hospitals, 23 joint ventured ambulatory surgical centers, 50 satellite outpatient locations, four senior centers and 156 HealthTexas physician clinics.
Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System's subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano or Baylor Health Care System.
CONTACT:
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As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White is empowering customers to live well by reimagining traditional healthcare — creating more convenient, personalized and informed experiences. It serves more than three million customers through 53 hospitals, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple; the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; 1,300+ access points; 59,000+ team members; and its leading digital platform — MyBSWHealth. The system's award-winning employer solutions include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and Levanto — a company offering digitally enabled health products. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White's mission is to promote the health and well-being of all individuals, families and communities. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com