urinary tract infections

A urinary tract infection (UTI, cystitis or bladder infection) is a common infection that is caused by bacteria in parts of the urinary tract, such as the kidneys, bladder or urethra.

The signs of a urinary tract infection include:

  • Pain or stinging when urinating
  • Needing to urinate often or really badly
  • Urine that smells bad or looks milky, cloudy or reddish in color


The most common cause of UTIs in women are from bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagina, which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Once these bacteria enter the urethra, they travel upwards causing infection in the bladder and sometimes other parts of the urinary tract.

getting started

  1. Prepare to discuss this problem with your physician by paying special attention to:
    • Conditions and events that lead to an infection
    • The frequency of the infections
    • The usual symptoms you experience with an infection

  2. Make sure you obtain records from your primary care provider prior to your visit.


  3. Once you have taken the first step in speaking with your physician, the next step is a thorough evaluation by a physician specializing in urinary tract infections in women. This evaluation may include:
    • Patient history
    • Physical examination
    • Urologic assessment:
      • Urinalysis and urine culture
      • Post void residual urine—measured after urination
      • Cystoscopy—a small telescope that looks in the bladder
      • Urodynamics—a series of tests, performed in the office, to determine the characteristics of storing and emptying fluid


Once all of the initial evaluation is complete, an individualized treatment plan will be developed to meet your specific condition.

treatment options

Women tend to get Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) more often than men, because bacteria can reach the urethra through the urinary tract, which is shorter in women than men. This is because bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to the urethra from the rectum in women. Bacteria from the rectum can easily travel up the urethra in women.

Factors that may increase a women's risk of developing a UTI include pregnancy, recurring bladder infections as a child, having passed menopause and having diabetes.


How are urinary tract infections treated?
A sample of your urine will be tested to find out if there are any bacteria in the urine. Your doctor will then prescribe an antibiotic for you if you have an infection. Usually, symptoms of the infection will go away one to two days after you start taking the medicine. Your doctor may also suggest a medicine to numb your urinary tract and make you feel better while the antibiotic starts to work.

What can I do if I have frequent infections?
The doctor may give you a low dose of medicine for several months or longer to prevent infections from coming back. Your doctor may suggest that you take a single-dose antibiotic pill after you have sex to prevent urinary tract infections.

How do cranberries prevent UTIs?
Most urinary tract infections begin when bacteria enter the bladder through the urethra. The bacteria are able to stick to the wall of the bladder. Scientific studies have revealed that cranberries contain a class of compounds known as proanthocyanidins. These proanthocyanidins bind to the bacteria, preventing them from sticking to the bladder wall. This allows the natural flow of urine to flush the bacteria out before an infection can start.

The benefit of cranberries can be obtained from drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry extract available in a capsule form at the pharmacy. It is important to take the cranberry twice a day since the active ingredient, proanthocyanidin, washes out of the bladder 10-12 hours after ingestion.