Urinary tract infections in women: A hidden danger with severe consequences

A urinary tract infection is common among many women. Unfortunately, some ignore the initial symptoms and seek medical help only when the symptoms become exceptionally troublesome. Gynaecologist warns about the consequences, which can even include sepsis.

According to statistics from the Medical University in Wrocław, urinary tract infections (known as UTIs) account for about 10-20% of all outpatient infections and 40-50% of hospital-acquired infections. Bacteriuria occurs at least once in a lifetime in about 10% of the female population, and asymptomatic urinary infections are diagnosed twice as often in women as in men. Additionally, it occurs in about 20-40% of pregnant women.

Interviewed gynaecologists emphasized that frequent visits to the restroom should concern both women and men.

Situations when the bladder is full compel physiological needs related to urination. If we need to go to the restroom but the bladder is not full—meaning we urinate frequently but in very small amounts—such situations should concern us. When this is accompanied by pain, burning sensation, or urgency to urinate, we can be practically certain that it is a urinary tract infection, he explains.

Does a urinary tract infection differ from a bladder infection, with which most patients come and describe their problem? According to gynaecologists, not really, because the bladder is part of the urinary system.

However, it should be noted that these infections spread in stages. The most common stage is urethritis, followed by cystitis. However, they can spread further—even to the entire body. In patients, urological sepsis can also occur, he states.

As gynaecologists explain, urinary tract infections are the most common cause of these symptoms. However, could there be other causes of pain, burning, or urgency to urinate? Unfortunately, yes.

The cause could be, for example, sand forming in the kidneys or passing through them. Small stones forming within the urinary system can also cause similar symptoms. Additionally, increased bladder tension, which most often occurs in people with urinary incontinence problems, he explains.

Urinary incontinence is a serious problem, often associated with childbirth-related damages to the birth canal, vaginal prolapse, uterine prolapse, and bladder, as well as menopause when these types of ailments intensify.

The menopausal period, which precedes the loss of menstruation, can be one cause of urinary incontinence. Most often, this is so-called stress urinary incontinence, which occurs during physical exertion—such as playing, laughing, or sneezing. Urine then leaks in small amounts, say doctors.

He emphasizes that this does not mean it should be accepted. Many patients unfortunately treat it as a typical symptom that "just is."

They consider it normal, but it is not. Help should be sought and treatment undertaken, which is absolutely necessary in such cases. Sometimes, even a small anatomical correction can provide a chance to eliminate such a problem, the doctor observes.

In the opinion of the doctor, patients with urinary tract infections eventually visit doctors' offices because the symptoms become too intense and painful.

They go to doctors of various specialities: gynaecologists, urologists, and internists. In the latter's case, treatment is often undertaken without a more detailed anatomical examination, which can extend the infection. But it should be initiated as soon as possible, says the gynaecologist.

One must be aware that urinary tract infections only start "innocently." They can, however, progress to kidney infections or even kidney damage, causing permanent damage for a lifetime. Ignoring such ailments should, therefore, not be an option, the questioned doctor adds in an interview.

It should also be remembered that some of these types of ailments are associated with sexually transmitted infections.

We are talking about sexually transmitted diseases—primarily gonorrhoea and chlamydia, which in the first stage give similar symptoms. If not treated, they can turn into severe health problems, the doctor emphasizes.

If patients manage to endure the infection, it does not mean it has disappeared. The acute form of inflammation can become chronic, and then the problem arises. Symptoms are very mild, and the patient thinks she has recovered. But she can still infect her partner and continue to damage the urinary system, explains doctor.

MDs add that it is extremely important to monitor such infections during pregnancy.

The hormonal situation changes during pregnancy, so such infections spread more easily. There is urine stasis in the urinary tract. An infection that involves the bladder can quickly spread to the kidneys. Therefore, the gynecologist adds that as soon as the first symptoms appear, tests should be done and treatment started during pregnancy.

Doctors warn that recurrences can be expected if a urinary tract infection is not properly treated once. Therefore, one should not wait to visit a doctor and start treatment that will restore full comfort.

Due to anatomy, a tendency to infections, and weak bacterial resistance, infections are much more frequent in some people. The doctor says these people should be particularly careful and ensure that the infection is completely treated each time.

Antibiotics are most commonly used in urinary tract infections, which target the typical bladder flora.

However, we have a full list of bacteria that can infect the urinary tract. Therefore, if the standard treatment recommended by the doctor does not work or is too weak, additional tests should be undertaken. Perform a urine culture and a urethral swab to determine which bacterial flora we are dealing with, the specialist states.

Of course, one should also pay attention to whether the symptoms are not worsening and are not occurring only during sexual intercourse. It often happens that the infection is present in one partner but transfers and causes symptoms of a urinary tract infection,