Ask These Girls

If you have had a bladder infection before you know that it can be painful and even embarrassing. Many people experience urinary tract infections on a regular basis, one every few months. Whilst there may be an underlying reason for this, such as undiagnosed diabetes, for many it is simply down to a poor hygiene practices and daily life. Women are more likely to suffer from UTIs than men because of the design of their reproductive system and the shorter length of the urethra.

But how do UTIs start? Infections are usually caused from the top or the bottom. However, in older children and adults infection from the top is much rarer than lower-caused infections. Infection can reach the kidneys if it is left untreated for a long period of time, moving from the urethra to the bladder then up the ureter. If the kidneys are left untreated they may begin to fail or the sufferer might develop seriously low blood pressure levels.

Bacteria enter the urethra through the meatus for several reasons. The bacteria in faeces can cause UTIs in children who wear nappies as it is in close proximity to the meatus for an extended time. Older children and even adults who wipe back-to-front put themselves at a greater risk of UTIs by moving faecal bacteria closer to the meatus. Friction caused during sex is also a factor in people who experience regular infections as the friction can push bacteria into the urethra.

These are the most common factor in UTIs although there are many others. Symptoms of a UTI include pain during urination, abdominal and lower back pain and there can sometimes be blood in the urine. Unfortunately, some urine infections such as cystitis can have no symptoms at all which can lead to the long term problems described earlier.

Cranberry capsules can be used to prevent and treat urinary tract infections and are widely available without prescription although sometimes even a doctor will prescribe them over more unnatural drugs. The natural ingredients in cranberry capsules work to reduce the amount of pain felt when suffering from a UTI and prevent bacteria becoming an infection in the first place. If the pain is intense and you see blood in your urine be sure to visit a doctor who will properly diagnose your problem and give you the best treatment. There is no harm in taking cranberry capsules if you regularly suffer from UTIs and you could see a dramatic reduction in the symptoms.