UTI Testing & Treatment

What is UTI testing and treatment?

A UTI, or a urinary tract infection, is an infection of the urinary system. It can affect your urethra and bladder, leading to bothersome symptoms. Left untreated, a UTI may eventually spread to the kidneys.

UTIs are common, especially among women. Providers treat about 8-10 million people each year for UTIs.

Which symptoms might indicate a need for UTI testing and treatment?

UTI symptoms can include:

• Frequent urination 
• Flank, pelvic, abdominal, and/or lower back pain
• Pelvic pressure
• Urinary incontinence
• Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
• Blood in the urine
• Pain with urination
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Nausea
• Vomiting

See your WestsideMed provider at the first sign of a UTI to reduce the risk of an infection worsening. 

What are the risk factors for UTIs?

UTI risk factors include:

• Being a woman
• Sexual activity 
• Being perimenopausal or menopausal 
• Using diaphragms or spermicidal agents for birth control
• Low fluid intake
• Constipation
• Congenital urinary tract conditions
• Incomplete bladder emptying 
• Urinary tract blockages
• Enlarged prostate
• Kidney stones
• Catheter use
• Recent urinary procedure
• Weakened immune system

E.coli bacteria cause more than 90% of bladder infections. 

What does UTI testing and treatment consist of?

UTI testing and treatment at WestsideMed requires a discussion about your medications, lifestyle, medical history, and symptoms. Your provider also completes a physical exam and checks your vital signs. 

You can leave a urine sample to screen for a UTI. Other diagnostic tests you might need include an ultrasound or a CT scan. A cystoscopy uses a thin instrument with a light to view the inside of your bladder.

Treating a UTI often consists of taking antibiotics. You might begin to feel better a few days after starting treatment. Some minor infections might get better on their own. 

Prevention measures include practicing good hygiene, wiping from front to back after bowel movements, and changing tampons or pads frequently during menstruation. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. 

Avoid using diaphragms as a birth control method if you experience frequent UTIs and choose water-based lubricants during sex instead of spermicides. Call WestsideMed anytime with questions.

Schedule UTI testing and treatment at WestsideMed by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.