Urinary Tract Infection

About 6 in 10 women have a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their life, but, fortunately, UTIs are treatable. At Prosperity Internal Medicine, knowledgeable physicians Tarique Zahir, MD, and Taseen Mir, MD, provide compassionate care for UTIs, giving you the medication you need to recover quickly. If you have UTI symptoms, don’t hesitate to call the Reston, Virginia, office, or schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment online today.

What is a urinary tract infection?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) develop in your urinary tract, the system that helps your body process and dispose of waste. 

Most UTIs develop in the lower parts of the urinary tract, in the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body), or the bladder (the organ that stores urine until it leaves the body). 

Untreated UTIs can spread upward, reaching the ureters (the tubes joining the bladder and kidneys) or the kidneys (the organs that remove waste). 

Urinary tract infections can be very uncomfortable and may be quite dangerous if untreated. However, this very common condition (most women have a UTI at some point) that’s easily treated. 

How do I know if I have a urinary tract infection?

UTIs can cause:

• Burning sensation during urination
• Constant urge to urinate
• Pelvic pressure or pain
• More frequent urination and passing small amounts of urine
• Cloudy-looking urine
• Pink, red, or brown-tinged urine
• Smelly urine

Symptoms can become very disruptive, and if you don’t treat the infection, you could develop a more serious type of urinary tract infection. For example, a kidney infection can cause the above symptoms along with fever, nausea, vomiting, and chills. A kidney infection can cause permanent kidney damage or blood poisoning (sepsis). 

What causes urinary tract infections? 

Urinary tract infections usually occur because of bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract. 

Women are especially at risk for UTIs because their urethral opening is very close to the anus. 

Bacteria from the GI tract leave the anus in the stool. Bacteria can linger around the anus, and transfer can occur when wiping after a bowel movement. Sexual intercourse can also cause a UTI because it can push bacteria from around the anus toward the urethra.

How are urinary tract infections treated?

UTI treatment typically includes antibiotics. Prosperity Internal Medicine may prescribe antibiotics for anywhere from a day to a week or longer based on your needs. Your antibiotic can be customized to the kind of bacteria that causes your UTI. 

You can help prevent UTIs by drinking adequate water, wiping from front to back, urinating immediately after sex, and avoiding the use of feminine hygiene products that may contain irritants. 

If you have UTI symptoms, you don’t have to live with them. Antibiotics can make you feel better very fast, so call Prosperity Internal Medicine or book an appointment online today. Telehealth consultations are available.