Alice Vol. 7 No. 3

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UTI MYTHS BY KENNEDI HALL Urinary Tract Infection, otherwise A known as a UTI, is one of the most common diseases to the human body in both women and men. Although it is a common disease that doctors see in patients, there are still misconceptions about what a UTI is, and how it should be treated. A vast majority of women heavily rely on at-home methods like cranberry pills or simply downing a bottle of cranberry juice as soon as they feel a burning sensation in the vaginal area. It is not often that men and women feel enough urgency to contact a doctor or physician as soon as symptoms of a UTI occur, but is it vital for long-term health and to prevent further complications. UTIs are a common occurrence, and both men and women get treatment for this issue more often than what is assumed by the public. Often, men and women see UTIs as embarrassing, when in reality, treatment is necessary to prevent further infection to the body. “I’ve definitely had my fair share of UTIs,” said Hope Saunders, a criminal justice major at The University of Alabama. “It’s something I just deal with and keep going on about my day. There’s nothing embarrassing about a UTI, it’s completely normal.” Contrary to popular belief, UTIs are one of the most common concerns doctors see on a regular basis. One common misconception about a UTI is that a person who has one is unclean. “I think a lot of people have a misconception about a UTI and that it must be about hygiene or that people are not being clean,” said Dr. Abby Horton, professor at The University of Alabama. “Some people think it is due to something they are eating too.” Staying away from tight underwear and tight clothing in general can help prevent UTIs. “We always hear, especially when talking to young girls, to make sure that underwear is loose fitting and cotton,” said Horton. “For people who are sensitive, that is vital because a lot of underwear is tight and made of synthetic materials.” In today’s world, the internet is filled with quick at-home methods to supposedly cure pretty much anything a person would search for. One of the myths about curing a UTI is ingesting cranberry juice or cranberry pills. Unfortunately, this method is simply a myth. Drinks and pills that contain cranberry extract are not cures, but they can be seen as a preventative against UTIs or a reliever until a doctor is able to be seen. “These methods are not going to help if a man or woman actually gets a UTI, however, it can relieve some of your symptoms,” said Horton. “If you drink organic, sugar-free cranberry juice, it seems to help. As far as cranberry pills go, [70]
AND FACTS it is important that you get a reputable brand, and that you get one that has D-mannose with cranberry. Healthcare providers usually recommend taking this as a prevention.” Although cranberry juice is proven to be a preventative and a common reliever against UTIs, it needs to be taken in large quantities to create the same effect that one would get from consuming cranberry pills. Unfortunately, women deal with these matters at a higher percentage than men do. In fact, roughly 60% of women have suffered from a UTI, which is a stark contrast to the roughly 40% of men who have had a UTI. “Women get UTIs more often because the urethra of the man is much longer than a woman, and a shorter urethra breeds infection,” said Dr. Gwendolyn Hooper, a professor in The Capstone College of Nursing at The University of Alabama. “UTIs have nothing to do with cleanliness – they are actually due to an outside source coming into the urethra, the tube that runs from the bladder to the outside, or a birth defect that would cause frequent UTIs.” Men and women are told to take precautionary measures to prevent UTIs as well. Making sure feminine and body products are free from parabens is important in preventing any infection of the vaginal area. It is important to understand that a UTI is not a sexually transmitted disease. “It is just an infection,” said Hooper. “Some sexually transmitted diseases are infections as well, but a UTI is different.” Oftentimes, men and women will visit a doctor complaining of burning or painful urination associated with a UTI, terrified that they have an STD. According to a qualitative interview study conducted by The British Medical Journal, women with signs or symptoms of UTIs preferred to use at-home methods to avoid excessive doctor’s visits and side effects of antibiotics. In the study they conducted, they found that “women indicated a desire to avoid taking antibiotics and were open to alternative management strategies, including delayed antibiotics.” An untreated UTI can lead to further infection in the body. It’s important to note that consulting a doctor or medical physician is vital to cure a UTI. Common at-home methods should only be used to prevent infection and relieve symptoms, not as a cure. Visiting a doctor’s office to get a urine specimen is necessary. “E-coli is the number one bacterium that causes UTIs,” said Hooper. “The bacteria can go into the urethra and bladder and can continue to grow. Left untreated, the bacteria can move into the kidney, causing a kidney infection. ” It’s important to know differences in the symptoms between a common UTI and yeast infection, though they can both occur at the same time. Consulting a doctor on the onset of the symptoms can be helpful to get proper treatment and alleviate further worsening of infection. “A common UTI would include burning on urination, frequency of urination, fever and pain in the lower abdomen,” Hooper said. “Some people also have back pain on either side of their lower back. Yeast infections usually have a white vaginal discharge, burning with or without urination and itching.” Knowing the body is important to detect symptoms of a UTI and to receive treatment from a doctor or health care physician as soon as possible. UTIs can be a scary and uncomfortable experience, but taking proper preventative measures can be proven helpful to overall health. [71]
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Alice Vol. 7 No. 3

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