Condition

Urinary Tract Infection

What is it?

Urinary tract infection, or UTI, is a common bacterial infection of the urinary tract and can occur in the ureter, bladder, prostate, or kidney. While the symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and pain may indicate an infection, a urinalysis is required to diagnose this condition.

When the infection includes the kidney, it is common for patients to experience flank pain and fever in addition to the symptoms mentioned above.

Contributors to UTIs can include improper hygiene, dietary sensitivities, and structural abnormalities of the urinary tract. But, recurrent infections (known as chronic UTIs) likely require more significant medical intervention.

Key points:

A bacterial infection that must be diagnosed by urinalysis
May be acute or chronic
More common in women
Can include the ureter, bladder, prostate and/or kidneys
More common in pregnant and menopausal women due to hormonal shifts
Sexual intercourse can precipitate, especially in women
Must be treated to full resolution to prevent complications

How do we treat it?

Since a UTI is an infection, first we must resolve the acute bacterial invasion and heal the inflamed tissue.

Sometimes, the bladder and urinary tract inflammation sets up a hospitable environment for bacteria to grow and this becomes a precipitating factor. In addition to treating the infection, we will help you to determine the cause of this underlying inflammation, which can often have physical and psychological components as patients often report that their infection came on after a particularly stressful event, or after recalling a difficult experience from long ago.

we will also address any imbalances in your immune system which includes a healthy gastrointestinal barrier and freely flowing lymphatics.

As we work with you on these underlying issues, your urinary tract will gain the strength to remain healthy, even during stressful times.

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