Uti Or Yeast Infection: Whats The Difference
Urinary tract infections and yeast infections are two distinct yet common conditions among women that may present with similar symptoms. This can make it tricky to determine which infection is present when symptoms appear, making self-diagnosis not always accurate. Hector Chapa, MD, a Texas A& M College of Medicine OB-GYN, weighs in on the common confusion between the two and how you can help tell the difference.
How To Prevent The Occurrence Of Yeast Infection
Except in the cases of pregnancy and hormone therapy, it is possible to control the occurrence of yeast infections. By taking any of the following precautions, you can drastically reduce your chances of infection:
- Always wear neat, clean cotton panties that allow air to pass through
- Avoid tight-fitting clothes like pantyhose, especially during humid weather
- Avoid using scented pads and tampons.
- Avoid unnecessary use of antibiotic
Though they are often lumped together, UTI and vaginal infection are not the same thing. Both infections affect different systems of the body, and should be treated in a different manner. That said, eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water keeps you fit and helps you to fight the infections.
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How To Speak To Someone With A Chronic Illness
- Dont solicit medical advice
- Dont tell someone to look on bright side or that its not that bad
- If someone vents, vent with them, say in agreement how much that sucks
- Dont tell someone what they should be doing unless they ask
- Dont tell someone what beliefs they should have, what they should like, or how they should think
- Let people finish speaking, hear what they have to say just hearing isnt listening
Thats it for now. Thank you for reading my story!
I know how much infections can disrupt your life and make you feel miserable all the while, causing you physical discomfort with unbearable symptoms.
If you know someone who suffers from UTIs and yeast infections, share this blog with them. Also, share Melissas story.
Can you relate to my story? Leave a comment below or, if it makes you feel more comfortable, send me an email or message on social media .
You can also find me at my blog at www.realgirlreview.com.
I hope this story was inspiring to you and provided some helpful insight and tips for you to deal with your UTI and yeast infection journey.
Sending you warm vibes of positivity in your healing journey!
Geeves
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Can You Have Both A Uti And Yeast Infection
Some aspects of health tend to be overlooked, especially since certain types of infections are so common they are almost considered normal or “routine”. However, just because urinary tract infections and yeast infections seem to occur commonly in women and even pop up in men doesnt mean these shouldnt be treated, or that you don’t need to see a doctor.
Some women have grown to accept that they will just suffer from yeast infections or urinary tract infections from time to time and either dont bother with treatment or resort to over the counter remedies without ever consulting a doctor, which could be the reason for recurrence.
What Are The Causes Of A Uti
A UTI is mainly caused by bacteria, though fungi and viruses can also be the reason. UTIs can be of two typeslower tract infection involving the urethra and bladder, and upper tract infection involving the ureters and the kidneys.
Any factor that can irritate the urinary tract can cause a UTI:
- Long-term catheter use
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What Are The Differences Between These Infections
A UTI is any infection of the urinary system, which includes your kidneys, the ureter, which is the tube that connects your kidneys to your bladder, the bladder, and the urethra, the tube that takes your urine outside your body. Most UTIs are caused by infection in the lower part of the urinary tract, which means it typically affects the bladder and urethra.
Symptoms Of Uti In Women
Unlike yeast infections, vaginal itching is not a common symptom of UTIs. Instead, youll experience a painful burning sensation when you urinate and a frequent urge to urinate. You might notice that your urine is slightly cloudy, or even bloody, and smells like ammonia. UTIs dont usually affect your discharge but might turn it a yellowish-green color.
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How Can I Tell The Difference
Urinary tract infections and yeast infections can both cause itching and discomfort. But there are some important differences between the two that will help you answer the question, Do I have thrush or UTI?, such as:
The appearance of your urine can tell quite a bit about whats going on inside your body. In the case of a UTI, your urine may be cloudy or have a bad odour. It may also appear pink or red if blood is present in the urine. On the other hand, vaginal discharge from thrush will more than likely be odourless and have a texture that looks similar to cottage cheese.
Thrush typically causes very painful urination without any other symptoms, while a UTI can cause pain during urination as well as nausea/vomiting and lower abdominal pain .
Unlike thrush, UTI can cause bacteria to get into the bloodstream and result in more serious health issues.
Is A Yeast Infection A Type Of Uti
by Social Joey | Oct 1, 2021 | Uncategorized
UTIs and yeast infections often are mentioned in the same sentence, and understandably so. Theyre both uncomfortable infections, but are they the same thing?
No, they arent, and our AFC Urgent Care Farragut team provides some helpful information on both of these topics below.
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Should You See A Doctor
Both UTIs and yeast infections should be reviewed and diagnosed by your doctor to prevent them from getting worse. UTIs that are untreated could lead to a more serious kidney infection. Yeast infections may also be something more serious, or the symptoms may actually be from another condition, such as a sexually transmitted infection.
Causes Of A Uti Vs Yeast Infection
UTIs are bacterial, where yeast infections are caused by a fungal overgrowth. But the differences dont stop there.
A UTI is caused when bacteria travel from outside of your body into the urinary tract. This can happen in a variety of ways, and understanding how it happens may be able to help you prevent UTIs in the future.
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Sex increases your risk of UTIs, as bacteria from the rectum can find its way to the bladder easily.
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Women who use diaphragms have a greater risk of UTIs
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A compromised immune system can lead to greater incidence of UTIs
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Structural abnormalities in your urinary tract can put you at a greater risk of infections
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Wiping from the back to the front while on the toilet could introduce bacteria into the urinary tract
Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of candida, a type of yeast or fungus. This fungus is found in your body at all times, but sometimes it can multiply and cause problems.
Causes and/or things that put you at greater risk of candida are generally things that prevent your body from being able to naturally control candida production. Those include:
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Taking antibiotics
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Is There Medication To Help Thrush And Uti
Yes, medications are available to help treat both conditions. The major difference between the treatment for both infections is what they are caused by.
The Thrush treatment category targets infections caused by fungi, effectively preventing a candida infection. This medication comes in pill form for oral ingestion. Fluconazole works by killing fungus locally but also all over the body so it lowers your chances of getting future infections. You can buy fluconazole over the counter.
Similarly, the UTI treatment category aims to kill the bacteria causing this medical condition. The antibiotic course contains Trimethoprim tablets that should be taken to prevent a future UTI and not to treat acute cases
If you have a more severe case of thrush or UTI, and experience any side effects, immediately consult your doctor.
What Should I Do If Im Experiencing Uncomfortable Symptoms
If youre experiencing any of the above symptoms, the best course of action is to see your local medical provider for a diagnosis. Its possible to have both a UTI and a yeast infection at the same time, which can make it difficult to diagnose the problem yourself.
You can treat a yeast infection with an antifungal suppository or cream. Your medical provider may also prescribe a pill to help you with a yeast infection. UTIs are treated with antibiotics. Prompt treatment can help you avoid complications associated with these problems.
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Causes Of A Uti Vs A Yeast Infection
A urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria that may be in the area, and it spreads up towards the bladder, Dr. Shepherd says.
The most common bacteria that causes UTIs is E. coli, according to Rena Malik, MD, a urologist based in Baltimore and Columbia. UTIs are commonly caused by bacteria that’s spread during intercourse, so make sure you use the bathroom after sex.
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Concentrated urine can also cause the infection, according to Dr. Shepherd, so she recommends diluting your urine by drinking more water.
A yeast infection, on the other hand, is caused by an unbalance of yeast in the body, which can be a result of multiple factors. The overgrowth of a certain type of yeast called Candida can result in an infection that causes burning, itching, redness, and irregular discharge, per the Cleveland Clinic. But diet and personal hygiene can also play a role.
Symptoms Of Yeast Infection Vs Uti
Only a doctor can tell you for sure whether you’ve got a yeast infection or UTI . But each condition has its own distinctive set of symptoms, which could give you clues about which type of infection you might have.
Karyn Eilber, MD, a urologist who teaches at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles and founder/CEO of lubricant-maker Glissant, explains that if your symptoms are primarily related to urination, you probably have a UTI. That includes UTI symptoms like:
- feeling like you have to pee all the time
- an urgent need to urinate
- a burning sensation when you pee
- pee that’s reddish, pinkish, or cloudy
When you’ve got a yeast infection, you generally experience vaginal irritation all the timenot just when you have to urinate, Dr. Eilber tells Health. The Mayo Clinic says symptoms of a yeast infection include things like:
- vaginal discharge that’s thick and white, almost like cottage cheese
- vulva is swollen and red
- burning sensation, especially when you pee or have sex
- watery vaginal discharge
If your main symptom is burning sensation when you pee, it might be tricky for you to figure out if it’s a yeast infection versus a UTI.
“It’s possible that when a woman who has a yeast infection urinates, the outside skin will burn, and that’s where sometimes the confusion can come in with a UTI,” says Dr. Gersh.
But chances are good that you’ll also experience other symptoms that will help you narrow down the cause.
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Uti Treatment: How To Treat A Uti
As soon as you notice a problem in your urinary tract, you should start an immediate course of action for a UTI treatment.
Some will say that antibiotics are the best approach, but many patients have found this ineffective and instead, will opt for natural treatments.
It is important to remember that there are benefits to each of these treatments.
The first kind of treatment for a UTI is taking antibiotics.
Usually, this is recommended as soon as the urine sample is collected, and immediately before surgery.
Although the antibiotics will clear up most of the bacteria that causes the infection.
They will often also reduce the level of enzymes that help to digest protein.
Another way to approach this problem is to use natural remedies.
Taking supplements rich in iron, magnesium, vitamin C, and other vitamins can help to strengthen the immune system.
And also help the body to digest protein more easily.
These kinds of supplements will also help to restore the normal balance.
Vitamin C is often a big help in the treatment of a UTI.
While taking a supplement with vitamin C may not be a quick fix.
It can certainly give some relief from the pain and discomfort that are often associated with this infection.
If the infection has progressed to a more serious stage, an anti-inflammatory drug may be prescribed by your doctor.
As soon as you start to notice any symptoms associated with a UTI, it is best to try and understand how to treat a UTI naturally.
Lightweight.
Uti And Yeast Infections: Causes Symptoms And Treatment
Urinary tract infections and yeast infections are two common and uncomfortable womens issues you should know about. Even though these issues affect many women, most dont talk openly about them.
Whether youve had one of these issues before or never experienced either one, here are some basic tips on how you can identify whats bothering you. There are ways you can deal with these things at home, but you should also be aware of the signs that you should seek help from a physician.
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Uti And Yeast Infections Recovery Time: How Long Does It Take To Recover
There are three ways of dealing with UTIs and yeast infections recovery time is one of the things that a person should be aware of.
The recovery time has a great impact on the success rate of treatment.
And if the healing process becomes prolonged it can actually lead to further infection, increased pain and discomfort, and overall discomfort.
It is important to use prevention in order to avoid getting an infection in the first place.
And by learning about the factors that influence the length of time you need to take to recover, you will know what to do in order to keep the infection at bay.
This is also a good time to learn about the factors that may affect healing time.
There are several factors that have been known to affect the healing process of infection.
And they can also influence the length of time that it takes to recover.
One of the factors that affect the healing time of an infection is the level of irritation experienced by the person who has a UTI.
This can be determined by asking the patient, as it will help determine how long it takes to recover.
Other factors that influence the length of time to recover from infection are the frequency of bowel movements.
The frequency of urination, and the amount of time that the infection stays in the body.
These factors all factor into the healing time for infections caused by bacteria and fungus.
If the infection is a sexually transmitted disease , the healing time will be shorter.
How long does it take to recover?
Can I Treat My Uti Or Yeast Infection Myself
There are over-the-counter creams you can use to help relieve itching and burning, but they will not make the infection go away. Learn about more home remedies for UTIs.
Treatment for yeast infections typically involve over-the-counter medications such as a vaginal insert or a pill. However, medical advice from a health care provider is recommended to ensure you are using the appropriate treatment, says Barajas.
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When Should I See A Doctor Is This Something You Can Diagnose And Treat Through Video
You can definitely be diagnosed and treated through a video visit. Even for an in person visit, the urine sample and urinalysis is not always used to diagnose a UTI. The protocol nowadays is to base it off symptoms that you are having. The exception is if you are pregnant if anything appears on a test, you are treated even if you are not having symptoms, because it could prevent any other issues from occurring, such as pre-term delivery. For a UTI, I can show patients over video how to do a self-exam and how to locate the kidneys to evaluate a kidney infection because it is very important for people to know. For a yeast infection, a physician needs to be aware of your sexual history as well, since sometimes the symptoms of a yeast infection and UTIs could also be similar to some sexually transmitted diseases.
Can I Treat A Uti Myself
For a UTI, the most common advice is to drink a lot of water and unsweetened cranberry juice. While there hasnt been any concrete scientific study to confirm that this helps, anecdotally a lot of patients have said this has worked for them. For my patients, I always tell them to try to drink as much unsweetened cranberry juice and water as they can when their symptoms first start. If symptoms dont get better after one or two days, or at any point if there is fever, nausea or vomiting, its best to seek help from a physician.
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Next Time Youre About To Clear The Pharmacy Shelves Of Vaginal Suppositories And Uti Relief Sachets Not So Fast
Weâll go out on a limb and say, most of the time, if you have a full blown UTI, youâll know about it. That burning, bladder-doesnât-feel-quite-empty, even though youâve hit the restroom six times in the last hour, feeling, is almost unmistakable. If youâre not so sure though, donât automatically charge towards the pharmacy shelves, hunting for yeast infection treatment , either .
An itchy, irritated vulva could be caused by a number of things, like dermatitis. While unusual, excessive discharge could be any type of vaginal infection, from a yeast infection, to BV or an STI. Or possibly, a normal shift in discharge consistency as your menstrual cycle goes through the motions.
Referenced in this article:
UTI and yeast infection are more common in females because of their anatomy, short Urethra.
- UTIs are common in sexually active women.
- Urinary catheterization increases the risk for urinary tract infections.
- A predisposition for bladder infections may run in families.
- Anatomic, functional, or metabolic abnormalities
- Voiding dysfunction, not being able to completely empty urine from the bladder.
Yeast Infection is common in:
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