Urinary Tract Infection Home Remedies - Q&A

This site has a ton of great information on urinary tract infections and what causes them, what are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, and of course ways to treat a urinary tract infection.  But I thought I would take a minute to just go through some basic Q&A about UTI's.  So let's get started.

Question:  How can I tell if I have a urinary tract infection?

Answer:  There are a number of symptoms, and they can vary slightly depending on where in the urinary tract the infection is.  Probably the most common symptom is burning during urination.  If you find yourself saying "Why does it hurt or burn when I pee" then there's a pretty good chance you have a UTI.  Another tell-tale UTI symptom is a frequent urge to urinate, but not being able to actually go once you get to the bathroom.  You can also have abdominal pain if the infection has moved up to the bladder.  This is of course also called a bladder infection or cystitis.  If you have lower back of "flank" pain, you might have developed a kidney infection.  If that's the case, you should see a doctor right away.

Question:  Is a urinary tract infection contagious?

Answer:  Well, sort of, but not really.  Almost all urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria, not a virus.  Usually when someone thinks about things being contagious, they think about viral infections like a cold or the flu.  A virus is introduced, enters the body and then multiplies, eventually making you sick.  Well, bacteria already exist all throughout your body.  Some bacteria is beneficia, like the bacteria in your digestive tract.  But it's important for bacteria to stay where it belongs, and stay out of where it doesn't.  Most frequently E. Coli is the bacteria responsible for a urinary tract infection, and E. Coli is abundant in the lower digestive tract and lower intestines.  While it's not particularly pleasent to discuss, most of the time the close proximity of the anus to the uretheral opening, is the cause for a UTI.  Sex, particularly anal and vaginal sex together in one session is the cause of a UTI.  E. Coli bacteria from the anus is introduced into the vagina and a UTI is almost certian to develop.  It is also entirely possible that any object that comes into close proximity to, or is inserted into the vagina can introduce bacteria that might result in a urinary tract infection.  In cases of intercourse with an uncurcimsized man, be sure everything is sanitary!

Question:  Do I have to go to the doctor for a urinary tract infection?

Answer:  Not always.  There is no substitue for the advice of a trusted and qualified medical health professional, and nothng on this site should be substituted for regular visits to your Doctor.  That being said, the most frequent doctor prescribed treatment for a urinary tract infection is antibiotics.  A lot of times, this simply isn't necessary.  Bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics after repeated exposure and so it's not uncommon that in people with recurring urinary tract infections, stronger and stronger antibiotics are prescribed.  The problem with this is that not all bacteria in your body are bad, and antibiotics are non-selective killers.  They'll destroy both good and bad bacteria, including the highly beneficial bacterial flora present in your stomach and digestive tract.  That's why "stomach issues" are such a common side effect of antibiotics.  If you do take antibiotics for your UTI, you should supplement with a good digestive probiotic to help re-establish the natural bacteria in your digestive tract.

Question:  Will cranberry cure my UTI?

Answer:  Probably not.  If are someone that has had a UTI and took cranberry for it, and you felt better probably one of two things happened.  First, if you took the cranberry in liquid form, it's possible the simple increased fluid intake and subsequent frequent urination flushed the bacteria from your urinary tract.  It's likely you might have seen the same effect from simply drinking lots of water.  Almost all cranberry tablets recommend an increased fluid intake as well.  The other thing that may have happened is that your UTI just "ran it's course" and your bodies natural defenses fought and won the infection.  Now this isn't to say that in the realm of urinary tract infection that there is no benefit from cranberry.  IN fact there seems to be a good bit of benefit, but it's prmarily in the 'prevention' side of things.  Scientific studies suggest that a substance in cranberry (and in other similar berries) gives the lining of the urniary tract a property of being a tad "slippery" to the bacteria, making it difficult for bacteria to adhere to the lining of the urinary tract and colonize.  The natural flushing action of regular urination flushes the majority of any bacteria away and preventing a UTI.

Question:  If I have a UTI, can I give a UTI to my partner through sex?

Answer:  Maybe.  Again, it's not a contagious disease like the flu or a cold.  I would say that if you're a male and you think you have a UTI, there's a better chance you could give your female partner a UTI than the other way around.  This is mostly do to anatomy.  The distance from the opening of the urethera (penile opening or vaginal opening) to the bladder is significantly shorter in women than in men.  For women, the distance may only be a couple inches.  In men it can be as much as 7 inches or more.  This distance makes it much easier for men to flush bacteria from their system than for women.  of course most people find a urinary tract infection so uncomfortable that sex is not something they're typically interested in.
Are there any effective urinary tract infection home remedies?
Answer:  Yes.  The most effective urinary tract infection home remedy is here.  There are a lot of things you can do.  The best thing is to increase your water intake which will increase the natural flushing of bacteria from your body.  In addition, there are some over the couter medications you can take, but most of them are simply masking the symptoms rather than curing the underlying cause.  If you are really desperate, please check out this home remedy for UTI.</a>