Urinary Tract Infection(UTI)

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection caused by bacteria, fungi, or parasites in urinary tract.Your urinary tract is the system that makes urine and carries it out of your body. It includes your bladder and kidneys and the tubes that connect them. When bacteria get into this system, they can cause an infection.
Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A bladder infection usually is not serious if it is treated right away. If you do not take care of a bladder infection, it can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and can cause permanent damage.

Causes of UTI:

Women are especially prone to UTIs for anatomical reasons. One factor is that a woman’s urethra is shorter, allowing bacteria quicker access to the bladder. Also, a woman’s urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina.

Symptoms of UTI:

• Frequent and intense urge to urinate but usually small amount of urine
• Painful, burning feeling during urination
• Urine often looks cloudy and occasionally dark, if blood is present 
• Lower abdominal discomfort or feel bloated 
• Normally, UTIs do not cause fever if they are in the bladder. A fever may mean the infection has reached the kidneys 

Diagnosis of UTI:

• Ask about urinary symptoms 
• Order a test of a sample of urine for the presence of bacteria and white blood cells

For a person with recurrent UTI,  additional tests might be needed to determine if urinary tract is normal

• Kidney and bladder ultrasound

• Computerized tomography (CT) scan

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Treatment of UTI:

Most UTIs are treated with antibiotic. The choice of medication and length of treatment varies, depending on the patient’s history and the type of bacteria causing the infection.

Prevention of UTI:

• Drink a lot of water 
• Don't resist the urge to urinate for a long period of time
• Drink cranberry juice or take vitamin C to acidify urine
• Wipe from front to back after defecate
• Urinate and cleanse genital area after sexual intercourse
• Avoid fluids that irritate the bladder, such as alcohol, citrus juices, and caffeine
• Avoid scented douches

Source of reference:http://women.webmd.com ; www.about.com; www.wikipedia.com

Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding

Unexpected bleeding is always a concern for a woman at any stage of life. Bleeding other than a normal menstrual period can be great cause for alarm. Intermenstrual bleeding refers to vaginal bleeding (other than postcoital) at any time during the menstrual cycle other than during normal menstruation. Postcoital bleeding is non-menstrual bleeding that occurs immediately after sexual intercourse.

Causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding

There are many possible causes for abnormal vaginal bleeding. By itself, it does not necessarily indicate a serious condition.

• possibility of pregnancy
• Ovulation might lead to mid-cycle bleeding
• Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormone imbalance that interferes with normal ovulation which can cause abnormal bleeding.
• Birth control pills sometimes cause abnormal vaginal bleeding.  Minor bleeding between periods during the first few months might occur if you have recently started using birth control pills. Bleeding might occur if not taking your pills regularly
• An intrauterine device (IUD)
• Infection of the pelvic organs  (vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries) may cause vaginal bleeding 

Tests to be done

 Doctor should carefully examine medical history. A complete physical examination will be performed  including a thorough pelvic exam

• The exam includes careful inspection of the external genitalia, urethra, and anal area.
• The vaginal walls and cervix are inspected for the presence of any abnormalities or retained foreign objects. Fluid samples may be taken to test for the sexually transmitted diseases
•  Pap smear will be taken to examine for cancer

• An ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis may be performed
• An endometrial biopsy may be performed to take a sample of tissue from the lining of the uterus

Source of reference:http://women.webmd.com ; www.about.com; www.wikipedia.com

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis occurs when there is an imbalance between the healthy and unhealthy bacteria that occur naturally in the vagina.Women often experience these common signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. However, some women never develop any signs or symptoms indicative of this vaginal infection.

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The signs and symptoms:

• A foul, or fishy, vaginal odor, often noticed after sexual intercourse
• White or grayish vaginal discharge
  
• Burning during urination and/ or itching around the outside of the vagina

The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis: a visual vaginal examination is performed to check for any signs of bacterial vaginosis. After that, the physician takes a sample of vaginal fluid for laboratory examination to look for the type of bacteria linked to BV.

Treatments for bacterial vaginosis:   antibiotics are prescribed for treating bacterial vaginosis. It comes in the form of vaginal cream or gel. Oral medications are also available.  However, it’s important that all women who have BV receive treatment as quickly as possible. If  left untreated, it can lead to the development of pelvic inflammatory disease. Pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis also face the prospect of premature delivery or giving birth to low birth weight babies without proper treatment.

Prevention of bacterial vaginosis:

• take vaginal hygiene measures (eg, wipe front to back, cotton underwear, no douching, no feminine products, use a mild soap)
• prevent unprotected sexual encounters

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Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

Hi Ladies, most of the time vaginal discharge is perfectly normal. The amount can vary and its color can range from clear to milky white, depending on the time in your menstrual cycle. For example, there will be more discharge if you are ovulating, breastfeeding, or are sexually aroused. It should also be odorless.
However, if the color, smell, or amount seems unusual, especially if it accompanied by vaginal itching or burning, you could be noticing an infection or other condition.

Type of Discharge	What It Might Mean	Other Symptoms
Bloody or brown	Irregular menstrual cycles, or less often, cervical or endometrial cancer	Abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain
Cloudy or yellow	Gonorrhea	Bleeding between periods, urinary incontinence
Frothy, yellow or greenish with a bad smell	Trichomoniasis	Pain and itching while urinating
Pink	Shedding of the uterine lining after childbirth (lochia)
Thick, white, cheesy	Yeast infection	Swelling and pain around the vulva, itching, painful sexual intercourse
White, gray, or yellow with fishy odor	Bacterial vaginosis	Itching or burning, redness and swelling of the vagina or vulva

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