Women may have a higher risk of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs) than men. At Physicians and Surgeons for Women in Springfield, Ohio, the team of providers treat people with urinary tract infections to alleviate their symptoms, address any underlying problems, and help prevent complications. If you have difficulty urinating or pain during urination, call the office for an appointment.
Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria get into your urinary tract. The bacteria may only affect your urethra or they may travel up to your urinary bladder or kidney.
Urinary tract infections have different names, depending on their location:
Urinary tract infections are common in women at every age.
You may not have symptoms if your urinary tract infection is mild. When symptoms do appear, you will experience:
If the bacterial infection reaches your kidneys, you will have a fever, nausea, and pain in your upper back.
Complicated urinary tract infections occur when you have a high risk of treatment failure, your urinary tract infection is associated with another problem in your urinary tract, or you have a health condition that makes you vulnerable to complications from a urinary tract infection.
Possible reasons for a complicated urinary tract infection include:
Urinary tract infections are also considered complicated if you have a blockage in your urinary tract due to kidney stones, polyps, tumors, or structural defects.
The first line of treatment for a urinary tract infection includes an antibiotic and treating the underlying condition if one exists. Recurrent and complicated urinary tract infections require a longer course of antibiotics.
The team at Physicians and Surgeons for Women may send your urine to the lab to identify the type of bacteria. With that information, they can give you the antibiotic that targets the specific bacteria.
When you need quick treatment for a urinary tract infection, call Physicians and Surgeons for Women.