7 Symptoms of a Urinary Infection Everyone Should Know

Yes, UTI symptoms can be obvious. But please pay attention to these.

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The deal with getting a urinary tract infections (UTI)

Anyone who’s suffered through a urinary tract infection (UTI) will tell you that they’ll do anything to never experience one again. A UTI occurs when bacteria gets into your urine, travels up the urethra, and then into your bladder. According to the Urology Care Foundation, about 60 percent of women and 12 percent of men will develop at least one urinary infection in their lifetime. Proper hygiene, such as wiping front to back after bowel movements, peeing right after sex, washing foreskin regularly, and avoiding douches, are a few ways to prevent UTIs from occurring. Unfortunately, a woman’s anatomy makes her more prone to getting UTIs because her urethra is shorter, meaning bacteria has less of a distance to travel before getting to the bladder. In addition, because the opening of the urethra is in front of the vagina, bacteria near the vagina can get into the urethra from contact with the penis, fingers, or devices during sex. Read on to learn about the symptoms of a urinary infection so you can head to your physician for treatment as soon as you spot them. Here are 10 natural home remedies for a UTI.

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Urinating is accompanied by a sharp pain or burning sensation

An uncomfortable burning sensation upon urination is one of the symptoms of a urinary infection. Pain with urination, called dysuria, can be felt in the urethra or perineum, which is the area surrounding your genitals. “Oftentimes, the burning is from the acidic urine irritating the lining of the bladder and urethra,” says Lisa Hawes, MD, a urologist with Chesapeake Urology Associates in Fulton, MD and a spokesperson for the Urology Care Foundation. “The bacteria damages the lining of the bladder and urethra and then the acidic urine acts like alcohol over a cut, causing the burn.” Here are some surprising reasons you are getting UTIs out of nowhere.

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You need to pee—AGAIN

If you find yourself going to the bathroom all day long, track just how often nature is calling for you. UTIs can cause urinary frequency, which is also known as hyperactive, irritable, or overactive bladder, according to the Urology Care Foundation. Going to the bathroom more than eight times in 24 hours, including a couple times overnight, could be one of the symptoms of a urinary infection. Here are 13 health secrets your bladder wishes it could tell you.

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You gotta go—now!

You’ll also find that accidents and leaks are more likely to happen if you’ve developed a UTI, says Stephanie J. Kielb, MD, an associate professor of urology, medical education, and obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. Ordinarily, we’re able to contain our urine long enough to get to a bathroom, but if there’s an infection, the urge can be uncontrollable because the muscle surrounding the bladder starts contracting before the bladder is full, signaling that it is “time to go,” she says. Here are 11 things your pee can tell you about your health.

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Your urine looks cloudy

If your urine isn’t its usual clear straw-yellow or a lighter color, something could be amiss. Urine is comprised of waste and byproducts that have been cleared away from the foods, drinks, and medications you’ve consumed along with water, bacteria, environmental toxins, and other elements. A cloudy color could be one of the symptoms of a urinary infection. “Many things change urine color, including things we eat, medicines we take, and the concentration of the urine,” Dr. Hawes says. “Oftentimes with a UTI, the urine is cloudy with possible small whitish debris.” Find out if cranberry juice helps treat a UTI.

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Your urine has a strong, foul odor

Urine isn’t exactly supposed to smell like potpourri—and some medicines or foods like asparagus can be the culprit behind some strong, nasty scents, but if you’ve noticed a distinct change in your pee’s odor when there’s been no change in your diet or medication, that may be one of the symptoms of a urinary infection. While sweet-smelling urine could indicate uncontrolled diabetes and a spike in blood glucose levels, foul-smelling pee could indicate the presence of bacteria in the urinary tract or an infection in your bladder, Dr. Kielb says. There are actually 9 more reasons your pee smells funny.

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You have soreness in your lower abdomen, back, or sides

The type of pain you’re feeling could also indicate where the infection has taken place. Pain in the back and side could signal a kidney infection or pyelonephritis. Pressure in the pelvic area or lower abdomen is a symptom of a bladder infection also known as cystitis, Dr. Kielb explains. Check out these 11 silent signs of a kidney infection.

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Urine is a red or pinkish color

If you notice that your urine is tinted with a pinkish color, it could indicate a presence of blood, which can be one of the symptoms of a urinary infection or kidney stone. Note that this could also indicate a more serious (though rarer) health issue like bladder or kidney cancer, so contact your physician if you notice blood in your urine. “Blood in the urine in the presence of a UTIs not uncommon,” Dr. Hawes says. “Blood in the urine without an infection needs to be evaluated by a specialist. The specialist will rule out stones, blockages, and cancers.”

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If you suspect UTI symptoms, see a doctor

As painful as UTIs can be, at least treatment is quick and effective. A physician will generally prescribe antibiotics that will clear a simple bacterial infection in a matter of days, Dr. Kielb says. But if the infection is left untreated, it could develop into a life-threatening blood infection called sepsis or the bacteria could spread to your kidneys, which causes other symptoms such as back pain, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Next, check out the 15 everyday habits that could mess with your vaginal health.

Sources
Medically reviewed by Tia Jackson-Bey, MD, on August 20, 2019
Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest