Sadie Silva - What are urinary tract infections?

Published in 2022 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010

Copyright 2022 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

First Edition

Portions of this work were originally authored by Susan Henneberg and published as Your Sexual Health: UTI. All new material in this edition was authored by Sadie Silva.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Silva, Sadie, author.
Title: What are urinary tract infections? / Sadie Silva.
Description: New York: Rosen Publishing Group, [2022] | Series: Sexual health awareness | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021029139 (print) | LCCN 2021029140 (ebook) | ISBN 9781499472165 (library binding) | ISBN 9781499472158 (paperback) | ISBN 9781499472172 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Urinary tract infections.
Classification: LCC RC901.8 .S55 2022 (print) | LCC RC901.8 (ebook) | DDC 616.6--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021029139
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021029140

Manufactured in the United States of America

Some of the images in this book illustrate individuals who are models. The depictions do not imply actual situations or events.

CPSIA Compliance Information: Batch #CWRYA22. For further information contact Rosen Publishing, New York, New York at 1-800-237-9932.

CHAPTER 1
Hello, UrinaryTract Infection

CHAPTER 2
DifferentTreatments ForUTIS

CHAPTER 3
UTI Prevention

CHAPTER 4
UTI Risks andComplications

CHAPTER 5
Dealing WithUTIS

Theres never a good time for a urinary tract infection (UTI) to show up. These infections are very common, and in some cases, very serious. You may notice a strong urge to pee that doesnt go away, no matter how many trips you take to the bathroom. When you do pee, it might burn. Your urine might be cloudy, discolored, or strong smelling. And you might have pain in your pelvis. If you or someone you know has these symptoms, its important to take action to diagnose and treat your UTI.

According to the Urology Care Foundation, UTIs are the second most common type of infection in the body.

More than 8 million doctor visits each year occur because of UTIs. These infections impact about 10 in 25 biologically female individuals and 3 in 25 biologically male individuals in their lifetime. Some people get recurrent UTIs, which means three or more each year.

A urinary tract infection is one of the most common reasons why teens, especially biologically female teens, visit the doctor. And while UTIs in biological males are rarer, they are often more serious than those in biological females. Since the structure of the male and female urinary tract is different, your assigned sex (a label based on your hormones, chromosomes, and genitals at birth) plays a large role in the likelihood of your developing a UTI, regardless of gender identity.

UTIs also have to do with your sexual health. Biologically female individuals may have increased UTIs starting in puberty and later after they reach menopause. This is sometimes because of hormonal changes during these periods of life. Some link the onset of UTIs in puberty with the onset of sexual activity. Whats the connection? Having sex is one of the most common ways that harmful bacteria find their way into a females urethra. But its not the only way. Because of female anatomy, UTIs can happen to biologically female individuals for a variety of reasons.

Its important to have UTIs treated by a doctor. They are quickly diagnosed with a urine sample and are usually easily treated with antibiotics. Modern technology has increased doctors ability to prescribe the right antibiotic for the particular strain of bacteria a patient may have. Until the infection clears up, a person with a UTI needs to rest, drink lots of fluids, and take over-the-counter pain medications. If a UTI isnt treated, it can become a kidney infection, which is a more serious condition.

Rest is a major part of treating a UTI. Its important to get the recommended amount of sleep and not put your body through too much stress.

Some people are embarrassed to have a UTI, since it means youll have to use the bathroom a lot. Teens might even feel ashamed of a UTI because of stigmas around sexual activity. While those feelings are valid, its important to know that your health is the number-one priority. That might mean advocating for your health to doctors, school nurses, parents, teachers, and coaches. Learning about UTIs and making the best choices for your physical and mental health are necessary steps toward reclaiming your well-being.

T he first time you get a UTI, you might have no idea whats going on. Usually, people can pee without a problem, and we take that for granted. You may not even know what your urinary tract is until its not working properly.

The urinary tract plays an important role in the body. Its your bodys drainage system for urine. Urine is a way for your body to regulate the amount of water in your body. Excess water is eliminated as urine. But urine is more than just the water you drink. Its also made up of salt, a chemical called ammonia, and waste products such as urea and creatinine. The urine travels through the urinary tract on its way out of your body. The urinary tract is a pathway that includes several important organs.

Without kidneys, the two bean-shaped organs shown here, waste substances from the blood would build up as toxins.

Your two kidneys filter waste substances from the blood and produce urine to get rid of them. The ureters are thin tubes that take urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder holds the urine until its time to go to the bathroom. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.

Different types of UTIs occur in different parts of the urinary tract. Upper urinary tract infections involve the kidneys and ureters, while lower urinary tract infections involve the bladder and urethra. Biological females have more lower urinary tract infections than males. As youll find out, the structure and functioning of your urinary tract has a lot to do with your urinary health.

Male and female urinary systems have the same basic organs and purpose. However, differences between the systems can lead to differences in the prevalence and severity of UTIs.

People who are biologically female have short urethras. The urethras only purpose is to take urine from the bladder out of the body. The opening of the urethra is close to the anus, the outlet for the digestive system. The urethra is also close to the vagina. The position of the opening of the urethra close to the anus and vagina makes it easier for bacteria to travel these short distances. Thats why those with this structure get more infections in their urinary tracts than others.