WHAT IS IT?

Everyone knows the symptoms: burning sensations while urinating, a need to urinate without much actual urine being released, abdominal pain, tenderness, bloating, discolored or smelly urine, fever, nausea and even vomiting.

These can all be symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI): a troubling but treatable, curable and preventable infection many women and some men suffer from. A UTI can include an infection of any urinary tract system organs. These include the bladder, kidneys, ureter or the urethra. UTIs can occur for a series of reasons and with a variety of co-factors, including pregnancy/child birth, diabetes, catheter insertions, kidney stones and more.

When related directly to sexual health, UTI occurs as an infection of the urethra – the tube that carries urine out of the body – due to an excess of bacteria in the urethra and/or bladder. Sexual intercourse and sexual health also have a place in the list of causes and co-factors, and there are many important things to note and precautions to take to prevent recurring UTIs.

During a UTI, unwelcome bacteria has entered the urethra and caused an infection in the body. Most of the symptoms are directly related to the infection and increase with severity as the infection is left untreated. The pain and burning sensation that results from a UTI is actually the body trying to acidify the urine to kill the bacteria.

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?

Women are found to have a greater occurrence of UTIs primarily because the urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. Pregnant women are more prone to the infections. Additionally, sexual intercourse can push bacteria deeper into the urethra of the woman.

There are other factors in sexual intercourse which may increase the risk of a UTI in a woman. One report states that women who used a diaphragm were more likely to develop a UTI. Likewise, the use of spermicides has been found to create a less hospitable environment due to the abrasive chemicals which can kill “good” bacteria and promote the growth of more infectious agents.

It is believed, though uncertain, that the friction of the penis against the urethra during intercourse is one of the primary causes of UTIs for women. Intercourse during menstruation has also been linked to UTIs as the blood harbors more bacteria and may enter the urethra during sex.

Men may get UTIs less because of the cleansing fluid produced by the prostate gland that helps to clean the urethra. Prostate problems in men may result in an increase in UTIs. Bacteria found in the rectum from the intestines, “bowel bacteria,” has been found to cause UTIs when entered into the urethra. This transmission of the bacteria into a man’s urethra can result from unprotected anal sex. It can also be transmitted into a woman’s urethra from vaginal sex following anal sex. This can occur while using a condom, as well as when not using one, because the bacteria can be transmitted on the condom.

UTIs can also be caused by existing sexually transmitted infections, particularly trichomoniasis and chlamydia, both common bacterial STIs.

FINDING AND IDENTIFYING IT

Any symptoms listed above should be reason for further checking. Any primary-care physician or health clinic can begin the process to diagnose a UTI.

The first step to diagnosing a UTI with a doctor would be a urinalysis: a procedure of taking a urine specimen and running laboratory tests to check for a few indicators. The process checks for levels of white and red blood cells as well as a presence of bacteria. Once factors indicate a UTI, a culture must be performed to verify the bacteria type and treatment required.

It is very important to verify with a culture follow-up when diagnosed with a UTI. The reason for this verification is that a series of many other unrelated factors may be causing parallel symptoms. Some of these factors may include infection or irritation due to latex allergies or spermicide use. Additionally, the symptoms may be related to a woman’s menstrual cycle (if the symptoms are occurring regularly) or even a vaginal infection. These latter conditions can be diagnosed with a thorough pelvic examination.

Specifically for recurring UTIs in women, another factor involved in the presence of similar symptoms could be a condition known as interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder syndrome. This can be diagnosed by an urologist with a cystoscopy.

Recently available on the market are non-prescription home-testing kits to detect a UTI. There are two varieties of home tests available. The first is a dipstick test which can be used by placing it in a sample of urine. The other is a culture kit which allows users to place a sample of urine in a tube or on a slide which will show a marker indicating the growth of bacteria. These kits are best used under the care of a physician, but are available from some pharmacies and online without a prescription.

TREATING IT

Once thoroughly diagnosed, UTIs are easily treatable. Antibiotics are the most common treatment prescribed by practitioners though the dosage, type and duration are dependent on factors that include prior infections and bacteria type. If not related to a more serious disorder, most UTIs can be cured with antibiotics within 1-2 days. Most patients remain on antibiotics for 1-2 weeks to ensure the infection has been removed. Treatment can be complicated by pregnancy or diabetes amongst other conditions, so be sure to consult a medical practitioner.

There are other drugs available to provide for pain relief during a UTI. Additionally, over-the-counter pain relief can be taken for any pain or fever reduction. For abdominal pain or bloating, it is recommended that a heating pad be placed on the area. Another recommendation for relief is to avoid alcohol, spicy foods and caffeine intake. These factors can irritate the bladder and urinary tract though, contrary to popular mythology, these bladder irritants will not cause UTIs.

There is a growing, yet to be thoroughly explored, concern with the overuse of antibiotics in allopathic (“Western”) medicine and the possibility that re-infection will occur with strains of bacteria resistant to the antibiotics. Homeopathic (“Holistic”) medicine offers a few treatment options to cure and treat UTIs without antibiotics. One such method is to alkalize the urine, creating an environment which can kill the bacteria. Alkalizing can be done with potassium citrate or sodium citrate supplements.

There are also herbal and homeopathic remedies marketed to cure UTIs through cleansing of the urinary tract. As with all alternative medicinal supplements, there are no official FDA statements evaluating the efficacy and thorough investigation should occur before use. Some herbal supplements, which can be purchased over the counter or prescribed by a naturopathic physician, include Goldenseal Root as an antimicrobial agent and Uva Ursi as a soothing antiseptic. For pain relief, castor oil can be rubbed onto afflicted areas.

Cranberry and blueberry juice (non-sugar sweetened, pure varieties) are known for their aid in urinary tract health. These fruit juices may have some antibiotic effect and cranberry juice (as well as vitamin C) is known to increase the acid in the urine to prevent bacteria growth as well as make the bladder wall slick to prevent bacteria from sticking to it.

In most cases, UTI treatment should be completed before sexual intercourse continues. This is to prevent further irritation or discomfort, specifically in the case of women. Additionally, UTIs cannot be transmitted from person to person. The only exception would be if the UTI was caused by the chalmydia or trichomoniasis bacteria, in which case the STI may be transmitted and UTI may be a symptom.

PREVENTING IT

There are many options to prevent recurring UTIs, most of which can be exercised simultaneously by both men and women. The only allopathic preventive remedy may be taking antibiotics after sexual intercourse, an option not recommended by most and one that should be discussed with a medical practitioner before being considered.

Some general tips for prevention include:

• Drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water a day to help flush bacteria from the urinary tract
• Changing sexual positions so that penetration does not rub against the urethra
• Urinate before and after sex to flush out bacteria; also, clean the genital area before sexual intercourse
• Cleanse the penis or use a new condom when going from anal penetration to vaginal penetration to prevent the transmission of bacteria from one to the other
• Smoking cessation will aid in urinary tract health and boost your immune system
• Reconsider your use of spermicides as some may kill off good bacteria and change the environment, or a diaphragm which can cause irritation, both leading to UTIs
• Boost your overall immune system with fruits and veggies high in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber
• Exercise and sleep regularly to maintain your immune ability
• Cranberry and blueberry juice unsweetened, cranberry supplement tablets and/or vitamin C supplements to prevent bacteria build up
• Use additional lube (particularly water based) to reduce friction during sexual intercourse
• Wear looser pants/underwear to allow “air” to breathe through your urethra
• Change tampons frequently and avoid “stay in longer” pads
• After using the toilet, women should wipe from front to back to avoid fecal matter ending up in the urethra
• Wash between anal and vaginal sex to prevent bacteria relocating from one end to the other
• Avoid things that can irritate your urethra (fragranced bubble bath, douches, sprays, etc.)
• Keep the tip of the penis clean, especially if you are uncircumcised, to prevent bacteria from building up around the foreskin and entering the urethra

All of these tips, facts, diagnostic techniques, tests and treatments are information that, when reviewed, evaluated and put into effect, can help to prevent recurring UTIs in men and women related to sexual intercourse and your sexual health.