{"id":12408,"date":"2021-03-10T08:00:47","date_gmt":"2021-03-10T14:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=12408"},"modified":"2024-06-17T14:18:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T19:18:32","slug":"when-urinating-hurts-see-a-doctor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/when-urinating-hurts-see-a-doctor\/","title":{"rendered":"When urinating hurts, see a doctor"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s an unpleasant but simple fact of life. At some point, most women will experience pain while urinating.<\/p>\n

Simple irritation or a yeast infection might cause the pain. It also can be due to contracting a sexually transmitted disease.<\/p>\n

But painful urination most often is caused by a urinary tract infection<\/a> (UTI). Statistics show that 50-60% of women will have at least one UTI in their lifetime.<\/p>\n

Infections of any kind should be taken seriously. If not properly treated, a UTI can lead to infections deeper in the kidney or even sepsis<\/a>, an emergency condition where the infection overwhelms your system and can cause permanent damage to vital organs. In extreme cases, a UTI can be fatal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you start running a fever, have pelvic pain, pain in your back or increased pain with urination, those are big indicators that you need to be seen by a health care provider. Don\u2019t wait. Go now,\u201d said Melinda Cooling,<\/a> vice president of advanced practice for OSF HealthCare<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Good hygiene helps prevent UTIs<\/h2>\n
\n

Does it hurt when you urinate?<\/p>\n

See a health care provider now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Bacteria get into the bladder through the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine out of the body. Because women have a shorter urethra than men, they are far more likely to get a UTI.<\/p>\n

Those bacteria can reach their destination in a variety of ways, all of which underscore the importance of practicing good hygiene.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most common bacteria related to female UTI are related to E. coli<\/a>, which can be found in feces,\u201d Melinda said. \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s especially important to wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom. It\u2019s also important to urinate right after engaging in sexual activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen who take a lot of baths increase their risk, too, because when they\u2019re sitting in the tub, bacteria can get into the urinary tract. It doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be dirty water, either. Prolonged immersion increases risk as it causes urethral irritation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preventive lifestyle habits<\/h2>\n

You can reduce your risk for a UTI by changing some lifestyle habits, too. Be careful what you drink<\/a>, and avoid high-risk sexual behaviors.<\/p>\n

\u201cAvoid caffeine and carbonation,\u201d Melinda said. \u201cWomen who drink lots of soda increase their risk. It doesn\u2019t mean you have to give them up, but use moderation. One or two cups of coffee or one soda would be OK. But if you\u2019re into drinking large-sized sodas multiple times a day, you should stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrink lots of water<\/a>. Usually, six to eight glasses \u2013 a couple of liters \u2013 are what you ought to be drinking. Don\u2019t wait till you are thirsty. If you start to feel thirsty, you already are becoming dehydrated. You shouldn\u2019t have that feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

And one more habit:<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t hold your urine. Don\u2019t wait until you feel you have to go. Get on a schedule of going every few hours to empty your bladder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other symptoms of a UTI<\/h2>\n

Painful urination is not the only indication of a UTI. In addition to painful urination, watch for blood in the urine, foul-smelling urine, lower back pain and fever<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Older women, in particular, should watch for those other symptoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we age, we have less nerve sensation in general,\u201d Melinda said. \u201cA young woman more often will feel a burn or urgency to go. Older women lose some of that, and so they can get sicker more quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

A low-grade infection sometimes may resolve quickly. Drinking more water will help flush out the kidneys and bladder.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat can be appropriate self-treatment in the early stage of an infection,\u201d Melinda said. \u201cBut if you start running a fever or have that flank pain, you need to see your health care provider.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Women are at higher risk than men for a urinary tract infection. Learn the symptoms of UTI and how to minimize your risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":12432,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[129,735],"tags":[974,329],"coauthors":[912],"class_list":["post-12408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous","category-preventive-health","tag-infection-prevention","tag-urinary-tract-infection"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen urinating hurts, see a doctor | OSF HealthCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Women are at higher risk than men for a urinary tract infection. 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