Your Guide to Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

You've coped with cramps, tampons, and padded bras, but being a woman can also mean having to cope with urinary tract infections, or UTIs. In fact, some experts rank your lifetime risk of getting one as high as 1 in 2 -- with many women having repeat infections, sometimes for years on end. Here's how to handle UTIs, whether you're experiencing your first or fifth infection, and how to make it less likely you'll get one in the first place.

What Causes UTIs in Women

UTIs are a key reason we're often told to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom. That's because the urethra -- the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body -- is located close to the anus. Bacteria from the large intestine, such as E. coli, are in the perfect position to escape the anus and invade the urethra. From there, they can travel up to the bladder, and if the infection isn't treated, continue on to infect the kidneys. Women may be especially prone to UTIs because they have shorter urethras, which allow bacteria quick access to the bladder. Having sex can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract, too.

Symptoms of UTIs

To identify an UTI, keep an eye out for the following symptoms:

• A burning feeling when you urinate
• A frequent or intense urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do
• Pain or pressure in your back or lower abdomen
• Cloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling urine
• Feeling tired or shaky
• Fever or chills (a sign the infection may have reached your kidneys)

Tests and Treatments for UTIs

If you suspect you have a urinary tract infection, head to the doctor. You'll be asked to give a urine sample, which will be tested for the presence of UTI-causing bacteria. The treatment? Antibiotics to kill the intruders. As always, be sure to finish off the prescribed cycle of medicine completely, even after you start to feel better. And drink lots of water -- and cranberry juice -- to help flush the bacteria from your system. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to soothe the pain -- a heating pad may also be helpful.

UTI Treatment Options

If you have 3 or more UTIs a year, ask your doctor to recommend a special treatment plan. Some treatment options include:

• Referral to a urologist (a doctor who specializes in urinary problems)
• Taking a low dose of an antibiotic over a longer period to help prevent repeat infections
• Taking a single dose of an antibiotic after sex, which is a common infection-trigger
• Taking antibiotics for 1 or 2 days every time symptoms appear
• Using an at-home test kit when symptoms start 

The tests, which are available without a prescription, can help you determine whether you need to call your doctor. If you're on antibiotics, you can test to see if they've cured the infection (although you still need to finish your prescription). Contact your doctor if the test is positive, or if your symptoms continue, despite a negative test result.