Infections of the urinary tract are very common in women. They can occur in the bladder and/or the kidney. Sometimes they are just annoying; other times they can be a serious health problem.

The most common symptoms of a bladder infection are:

• More frequent urination
• Urge to go even when your bladder is almost empty
• Lower abdominal pain or pressure
• Cloudy or bloody urine
• Irritation or a burning sensation when urinating
• Unpleasant odor of the urine
• Back pain or fever may mean that the infection has traveled up into the kidneys. This is a potentially serious occurrence and may require hospitalization for treatment.

A doctor can make the diagnosis of a bladder infection by talking to you about your symptoms, doing a physical examination and/or doing a test on a sample of your urine.

The best treatment for bladder infections is to take antibiotics.

If you have just begun to have mild symptoms, you can try to cure the infection before it gets established and out of control:

• Drink a lot of water or any other liquid.
• Make your urine acid (hostile to bacteria) by drinking any acidic fruit juice or by taking 1000 mg of vitamin C every two hours.
• Drinking cranberry juice is the most effective self treatment. It is naturally acidic and contains other substances that help eliminate bacteria.

There are several things you can do to lower your risk of urinary tract infections.

(1) Drink more water or any other liquid. This means a minimum of eight large glasses per day. Your urine should be clear or a very light yellow color. If it's darker you need to drink more.

(2) Empty your bladder more frequently. Flush out any bacteria faster than they can multiply.

(3) Always empty your bladder right after intercourse. Drink some water at the same time so you'll have to go again in a few hours.

(4) The source of the bacteria in urinary tract infections is the vagina. All women have bacteria in their vagina, which is just below the urethra, the passage from the bladder. After using the bathroom always wipe from front to back. You may decrease the number of bacteria in the area by douching.

(5) The most common precipitating factor in bladder infections is the friction associated with intercourse. You may feel that you have enough natural lubrication but if you get urinary tract infections you should use some additional lubrication.

(6) Having good vaginal muscle tone and control is beneficial for all women. It may decrease the risk of infections in that area by increasing the blood supply and boosting the natural immunity. See the sheet on how to do vaginal muscle exercises.

(7) Women who get urinary tract infections in spite of following all of the above suggestions should see their gynecologist. They may need referral to a urologist. Some need to take antibiotics on a routine basis, for example, every time they have sexual relations.