Female urinary infections require medical attention

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Half of all women will develop a urinary tract infection (UTI) in their lifetimes. The maddening, yet easy-to-treat ailment occurs when a bacterial infection flares up in the urinary tract. Dr. Philippe Zimmern, a urologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says women should seek treatment immediately after symptoms are detected.

“Symptoms of a UTI can include frequent and urgent urges to urinate, sharp pain during urination and cloudy urine,” he says. “Soreness may also be felt in the lower abdomen, back or sides.”

Dr. Zimmern adds that proper diagnosis and treatment by a physician is important to ensure an infection is treated correctly and does not spread to the kidneys. Antibiotics are often prescribed.

Good personal hygiene can aid prevention. Women should wipe from front to back after a bowel movement or urination and wash the skin around and between the rectum and vagina daily. Washing the body before and after sex can also decrease UTI risk.   

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/urology to learn more about UT Southwestern clinical services in urology.

Media Contact: Erin Prather Stafford