UTI Relief in 15 minutes

utireliefspiralI created this site because I really want to educate people about urinary tract infections, cystitis, bladder infections and even some on kidney infections.  I was so frustrated and disgusted with the lack of help and support I got from my Doctor, that I got determined to be an absolute expert.  The effect of all the anitbiotics I was on was just too much.  My entire immune system was in  ruins.  I had to do something.  This site contains most of what I learned.

Natural UTI Remedies

redbacteriaCystitis or Urinary Tract Infections are painful and sometimes incapacitating infections and we're committed to providing you with the information you need to help treat and prevent these infections.  Did you know that most infections are caused by the E. Coli bacteria?  Learn about that and more by clicking through this site and educating yourself.  You know what they say.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Well, we have a pound of prevention, so just imagine what that's worth!

UTI Cure - Symptoms And Signs

Urinary Tract Infections - Symptoms and Signs

Most women who have had a urinary tract infection in the past are quite adept at recognizing the initial symptoms well in advance of a full out infection.  In fact there is plenty of anecdotal evidence on the internet of women claiming to be able to self diagnose many days in advance of medical testing being able to accurately detect and diagnose the infection.

In premenopausal women a UTI is the third most common medical complaint after the common cold and the flu.  Additionally most women will develop at least one UTI during their lifetime and many will have recurrent infections.  Women are substantially more likely to develop a UTI than men are.  In some studies the increased risk is by as much as a factor of 10!  Why?  The average length of the urethra in women is 1.5 inches, whereas in men the average length of the urethra is 8 inches!  

Probably the most common and recognisable symptom of a UTI is pain and / or buring during urination, which is called dysuria.  Another very frequent symptom is having the urge to urinate frequently, or in some cases, almost constantly, but not being able to go, or only urinating a very small amount, despite a strong urge to go.  Some other symptoms are:

  • Hesitancy - Similar to the sensation of having to go but not being able to, or feeling the urge to urinate, but either not being able to go, or only having a very small amount of urine.
  • Cloudy, foul smelling urine or blood in the urine.
  • A mild fever, typically less than 101 degrees
  • Malise (Just a general “I don’t feel well” symptom)


It is important to be able to recognise the difference between a bladder infection or a UTI, and a more serious kidney infection.  Often the symptoms of a kidney infection can develop rapidly, and the symptoms of a kidney infection may not include the symptoms of the UTI.  Symptoms of a kidney infection include:

Higher fever (usually considered above 101 degrees)
Chills / Shaking
Nausea and/or vomiting
Pain in your back or side, usually on one side.  Sometimes called “flank pain”

If you have attempted to treat your bladder infection at home, and you haven’t been successful in treating it, you should see a medical professional right away if you believe you have developed a kidney infection.  Remember, proper diagnosis is 9 tenths of the cure!

New Study Shows Probiotics Effective in Recurring UTI

OxfordJournals.org recently published an abstract of a study conducted in the US on the effectiveness of using probiotics in the treatment of recurring urinary tract infections. 

The abstract was published with the title of  "Randomized, placebo-controlledphase 2 trial of a Lactobacillus crispatus Probiotic Given Intravaginally for Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection.

According to the abstract a depletion of the lactobacillus crispatus is indicated uring a urinary tract infection, and therefore replenishment may be a factor in prevention of recurring UTI.  That's basically the premis of the study.

So what they did was take 100 young women whi had a history of recurring urinary tract infections and they conducted a double blind trial of a vaginal suppository of lactobacillum crispatus.  If memory serves me correctly, a double blind placebo controlled test means basically that no one inviolved in the study (subjects or physicians / administrators) know who is getting what.  Some people get the real medication and some people get a placebo.

Anyway, they took the 100 women and gave them antibicrobials for acute UTI, and then they were randomized to get either the placebo or the lactobacillum daily for 5 days and then weekly for 10 weeks.

The results were pretty interesting.  A UTI recurred in 7/48, or 15% of the women taking the lactobacillum versus 13/48, or 27% of the women taking the placebo.  I'm not sure what happened to the remaining 4 subjects.

The conclusion?  Basically they stated that after treatment for the UTI, use of the lactobacillum crispatus via intravaginal suppository was effective in the prevention of recurring UTI and said that larger trials were warranted.

How Can I Prevent A UTI?

Many of the home remedies for UTI are mostly about prevention, and therefore covered on our “UTI Home Remedy Page.”
 
Good hygiene for both men and women is highly recommended. For women this includes being sure to wipe from front to back. This helps keep bacteria from the anal region from entering the urethra. For uncircumcised males, retracting the foreskin before urinating will help keep urine from accumulating around the urethral opening and creating an opportunity for the colonization of bacteria.

It is also important to be sure and completely empty the bladder when urinating. This will prevent urine from remaining in the bladder, which would increase the opportunity for bacteria to colonize in the baldder.

Because sexual intercourse is such a common factor in the development of a urinary tract infection proper hygiene before, during and after sex is very important. Many health care providers strongly recommend urinating immediately following intercourse to flush out the urinary tract of bacteria that may have been introduced during sex.

There is also some indication that one cause of UTI is anything that may cause irritation in the genital area such as deodorant sprays, feminine products such as bubble bath or tight clothing may encourage bacterial growth. Wearing absorptive clothing such as cotton may help by wicking away drops of urine eliminating bacterial colonization.