UTI Treatment

Jersey Women's Care Center

Obstetrics & Gynecology located in Fair Lawn, NJ & Jersey City, NJ

A whopping 50-60% of all women in the United States will experience a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their lives. While not necessarily dangerous, UTIs can cause considerable quality of life issues, which Dr. Elizabeth Ramirez and Dr. Huiying Hou at Jersey Women’s Care Center can quickly resolve. For prompt treatment of your UTI, call one of the two New Jersey locations in Fair Lawn or Jersey City, or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.

UTI Treatment Q & A

What is a UTI?

A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that can affect your urinary system, including your:

Bladder
Urethra
Kidneys
Ureters

In most cases, UTIs typically strike the lower half of your urinary tract, which means your urethra and bladder.

What are the symptoms of a UTI?

The most common symptoms of a UTI include:

Pain when urinating (usually a burning sensation)
A strong and persistent urge to urinate
Only urinating small amounts
Cloudy or darkened urine
Odorous urine
Pelvic pain

These symptoms typically come on quickly and don’t go away on their own, which is why seeking the expert medical intervention of Drs. Hou and Ramirez is a good idea.

What causes a UTI?

While the exact cause of a UTI is bacteria that get into your urinary tract, there are factors that put you more at risk of developing a UTI, including:

Having sex with a new partner
Menopause
Wiping back to front after urination or defecation (always wipe front to back)
Birth control methods like diaphragms

Unfortunately for women, their anatomy — namely a short urethra — makes them more prone to UTIs because bacteria don’t have far to travel to get to the bladder.

How are UTIs treated?

After reviewing your symptoms and conducting a quick urinalysis, the doctors at Jersey Women’s Care Center get you started on antibiotics as quickly as possible for simple UTIs. The antibiotics should relieve your symptoms in a day or two, and you may only have to take them for three days or fewer.

You can help relieve your symptoms and speed up recovery with a few at-home techniques:

Drink plenty of water to help flush out the infection
Avoid drinks with caffeine
Use a heating pad on your lower abdomen for pain relief
Sit in a tub of warm water to relax your urethra

If you experience frequent UTIs, your doctor works with you to come up with a management plan that helps you avoid them in the first place. Or, she may place you on longer-term antibiotics to help control recurring infections.

Don’t wait to get your UTI treated. Call Jersey Women’s Care Center or use the online scheduling tool to get prompt relief.

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