What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Female Urinary Tract Infection?

Urinary tract infections are so common that most of us will experience at least one during our lifetimes. Infants, the elderly and pregnant women are all especially prone to contracting urinary tract infections. Although the symptoms can be painful or uncomfortable, the treatment is relatively easy if you can catch the symptoms early.

Women and UTIs

• Women are always more likely to get urinary tract infections than men because of the way their anatomy is structured. Unlike a male, a female's urethra, the channel through which urine leaves the body, is located in close proximity to her anus. Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria that is normally found on the skin, in the stool or in the intestinal tract is spread into the urinary system through the urethra. Women are also more prone to urinary tract infections than men are because during sex bacteria that is found on the skin can be transferred from the male's penis to the female's vagina. From there it can work its way into the urethra.

Dysuria

• The first sign of a urinary tract infection is often dysuria. Dysuria is the medical term for painful urination. You may experience a burning sensation or cramping pain when you try to urinate. This occurs because the bacteria that have entered your urethra are now irritating the urethra's lining. When the urine hit the irritated urethra, the result is a painful burning.

Increased Urination

• Another common symptom of urinary tract infection in women is a sudden increase in the urge to urinate. This occurs because the urinary system is trying to flush the bacteria out. On the other hand, you may find that you have trouble urinating at all. You may feel an intense urge to urinate but no urine will come out. A pregnant woman experiences this symptom most often because her enlarged uterus is pressing down on her bladder. This traps the urine inside and invites bacterial infection.

Lower Body Pain

• Urinary tract infections can be very painful for women. Besides the painful urination, you may also feel a burning or cramping in your pelvis or your lower back. The pain in your pelvis is from the bacteria that has lodged in your bladder and caused irritation. If you are experiencing lower back burning or pain, it is a sign that your kidneys are being irritated, too. You should be especially concerned about the kidney pain because it means that the infection has traveled further up your urinary system.

Unusual Urine

• Your urinary system's main product is urine, so any sudden changes in your urine can also be sign of a urinary tract infection. Your urine can be darker than usual or may be cloudy. In some case, you may urinate blood when you have a urinary tract infection. Particularly smelly or pungent smelling urine is another sign of a urinary tract infection. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your health care provider.