Got a UTI? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

The burning sensation, the never-ending toilet trips… Sound familiar?

Around half of all women will get a UTI at some point in their life. Fortunately, most UTIs aren’t serious and can be easily treated or fade on their own.

But where do they come from? What is a UTI? Do they actually come from sex? And is cranberry sauce really the secret weapon?

What is a UTI?

A UTI or urinary tract infection is an infection in the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Infections most commonly affect the bladder and urethra in the lower urinary tract.

You may have heard of cystitis, a common type of UTI which causes inflammation of the bladder.

How do you get a UTI, and what causes them?

One word: bacteria. UTIs result from bacteria entering the urethra (where urine leaves the body), into the urinary tract, spreading to the bladder and developing into an infection.

They can sometimes occur without a clear cause. People will vulvas can randomly get a UTI due to the close proximity of the urethra and the anus.

While it’s not the only cause, sex is a fairly common cause of UTIs, as new bacteria are introduced to this area of the body. Other factors that increase your chances of getting a UTI are dehydration, using a diaphragm form of contraception, not keeping your genital area (and sex toys!) clean, and having a weak immune system.

What are the main symptoms of a UTI?

What does a UTI feel like? The famous symptoms of a UTI are:

• Burning when peeing.
• Strong feeling of needing to urinate that doesn’t fade.
• Peeing frequently but only in small amounts.

Other UTI symptoms can include:

• Urine that looks pink, red, brown, or cloudy.
• Strong-smelling urine.
• Pain in the pelvis (for people with vulvas).

Are UTIs dangerous?

Most UTIs are only present in the bladder. These only last about a week, and fade on their own or with antibiotics. These aren’t dangerous, just painful and irritating.

They can become dangerous, however, if they spread to the kidneys. If you experience pain in your back or side, fever, nausea, shaking, vomiting, or chills, see your doctor immediately.

How are UTIs treated?

Most can be treated quickly with antibiotics. But if you want to take the home remedy route, there are different ways to make your UTI fade faster:

• Drink lots of water.
• Try unsweetened cranberry juice (there’s no full-proof evidence showing this treats UTIs, but it has been known to help alleviate the pain).
• Urinate often - don’t hold it in!
• Increase your vitamin C intake.
• Avoid sex.

How can you lower your chances of getting a UTI?

There are a few things you to do to minimise the chances of getting this uncomfortable condition:

• Drink lots of water (every day, all day!).
• Thoroughly wipe from front to back when using the toilet.
• Pee right after sex.
• Practice good personal hygiene.

Can you have sex with a UTI?

In short, yes, you can have sex with a UTI. However, it’s best to avoid sex with a UTI because it poses the risk of irritating the urinary tract and worsening the infection by pushing bacteria into the urethra.

Got a UTI? Don’t panic! Get some rest, take painkillers if necessary, keep necking back water and wait for the discomfort to pass. You’ve got this.