#treatment for UTI in women

[edgarsghost]

UTI info

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Ask doctor about:

* Hibiscus tea affects hormones, particularly in women. Research shows that hibiscus tea can decrease levels of estrogen – the hormone that plays a major role in female fertility and development.

Sue Warlow you could try Prasterone, brand name is Intrarosa. Unlike vagifem which adds estrogen to your body, intrarosa is DHEA and helps your body to produce its own testosterone and estrogen. You have to use it every night rather than twice a week and may need to get it compounded but it would be worth trying for a 3-4 to see if there's improvement.

Anecdotally some people have better success with that.

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* probiotics competitively inhibit the survival of bacteria in the urinary tract, whereas D-mannose and cranberry prevent bacterial attachment.

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https://www.stoputiforever.com/interview/why-i-recommend-ellura-for-uti/

All

The info

However, the effects of PACs are at their strongest within 6 hours after ingesting.

One study showed that the E.coli-blocking effect drops quite a bit after 24 hours.

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Both are safe, natural options that can work to stop various types of bacteria.   It is preferred to take D-Mannose or 36mg of PACs a couple of hours from each other as it is not known yet if D-Mannose interferes with the ability of the PACs to work at their optimal level.  

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https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/more-urologists-are-recommending-cranberry-pacs-reducing-utis-heres-why

A Cochrane Review concluded that one 36-mg bioactive PAC supplement was as effective as a low-dose antibiotic for UTI prevention.

Some supplements, for example, are made from whole berry or presscake-the dried skins, stems, and seeds of the fruit-and contain mostly insoluble PACs that bind to cell wall components of the cranberry, such as cellulose. It is an essential distinction that this insoluble PAC does not prevent bacterial adhesion to the bladder.10

Soluble PACs, at high levels necessary for maximum anti-adhesion activity and clinical efficacy, can only be extracted from the pure juice concentrate.

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The half-life of Vitamin C in your bloodstream is about 30 minutes, meaning that your levels drop by about half every half-hour. The amount of time Vitamin C remains in your system depends on the factors listed above, but in general, it usually takes between 12 and 24 hours for it to be processed and excreted

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Utva:

It is safe to take PACs and D-Mannose together. However, we suggest taking each ingredient separately as some preliminary research shows that D-Mannose may lower the effectiveness of PACs when taken at the same time. 

Our recommendation is the PACs to be taken at the same time daily; preferably at night so that the PACs can sit in your bladder longer (while you sleep). D-Mannose can be taken during the day.

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If you take aspirin regularly, as a blood-thinner, for example, or if you are allergic to aspirin, you should not take cranberry supplements or drink a lot of juice. Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

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Chemicals in cranberries keep bacteria from sticking to the cells in the urinary tract. But they don't seem to be able to remove bacteria that are already stuck to these cells. This might explain why cranberry helps prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), but doesn't help treat them.

Activation of mast cells and subsequent release of histamine are known to contribute to bladder hypersensitivity and inflammation (Shan H, 2019).

Marshmellow root:

So, why is mucilage good for an irritated bladder? In healthy bladders, the mucosal membrane that protects the bladder wall is covered in a mucous-like layer made of GAGs (glycoaminoglycans). A contributing factor in IC is the breakdown of this protective GAG layer which allows substances to penetrate deeper into the bladder wall and cause inflammation. The demulcent action of marshmallow is achieved by the expansion of mucilage polysaccharides as they absorb moisture, swell, and form a gel that is soothing and healing to mucosal membranes.

Licorice:

Researchers believe that licorice enhances blood flow to the mucosal membrane and increases the mucus production, thereby allowing tissue to regenerate and heal. The ability of licorice to increase mucus production by epithelial cells appears to occur in a number of places that epithelial tissues are found, including the bladder (Braun, 2015).

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TheraCran® One is a recommended option, offering 500 mg of cranberry extract with 36 mg of PACs. It’s
the only cranberry supplement in the U.S. that is independently tested and certified for content
accuracy, purity, and PAC content.

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"In order to have the full effect of cranberry prophylaxis and/or D-mannose, you want to take them about two or three hours apart, so the combination pill is not usually recommended," Dr. Shah explained.

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In some lab studies and studies in mice, D-mannose components were shown to increase the growth of "good" bacteria. This suggests D-mannose may have some use for people with dysbiosis, an imbalance in good and bad bacteria.

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https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/cranberry-extract

Early randomized trials in humans, have suggested that cranberry juice or cranberry-concentrate tablets reduce the risk of symptomatic recurrent UTI by 12–20%, especially in premenopausal women.

Howell et al. (2002) showed that an antibiotic resistant uropathogenic P-fimbriated E. coli had significantly reduced adhesion to bladder cell receptors after incubation in urine of humans that had consumed 240 mL (containing 30 mg PACs). In later study, Howell et al. (2005)showed this consumption prevented adhesion in 80% of 30 P-fimbriated E. coli and in 79% of the 24 antibiotic resistant strains, with antiadhesion activity being evident in urine within 2 h that persisted for up to 10 h.

PACs:

PACs A-type showed a significant dose-dependent antiadhesive effect in urine samples of volunteers consuming at least 36 mg PACs from cranberry capsules compared with the group consuming the placebo, which was most effective up to 6 h after ingestion. They also determined that 72 mg may provide 24 h protection.

Alkaline or acid:

The best method for alkalinizing is citrate salts (potassium citrate and sodium citrate) that are rapidly absorbed and metabolized without affecting gastric pH or producing laxative effect. They are excreted partly as carbonate, raising urine pH.

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Science direct.com

The active compound of uva ursi is thought to be arbutin, which is converted into hydroquinone following consumption.53Alkaline urine is thought to be necessary for the efficacy of uva ursi, with in vitro studies indicating activity against typical pathogens.54

A preliminary trial reported the effectiveness of uva ursi in preventing recurrent UTI when combined with dandelion root and leaf.55 In this trial, women took an extract for 1 month and were then followed for 1 year. During that time, 18% of women in the placebo group (27 individuals) and 0% in the treatment group (30 individuals) developed a UTI. Unfortunately, due to potential toxicity when used long term, uva ursi cannot be recommended for the purpose of prophylaxis. The toxicity of uva ursi may be related to the component hydroquinone and the inhibition of melanin,56 although tannins may also play a role. Many experts recommend limiting the use of uva ursi to acute infections for no longer than 1 week at a time and no more than five courses per year,57 although others have argued that longer use may be safe.58

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The bladder is perpetually shedding and regrowing new layers. It takes between six months and one year for it to complete a cycle of rejuvenation. According to Dr. Bundrick, as long as the bacteria do not continue to burrow into the bladder wall as the new layers grow, they will eventually be eradicated through the long-term antibiotic method.

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Dr b: I’m a clinication, I don’t have have time, energy or desire for research (4min in Long Term Chronic UTI Treatment: Chronic UTI Treatment, with Dr. Stewart Bundrick, Part 2)

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Bacteria from a single UTI can lay dormant for weeks or months, eventually leading to another infection or cyclical outbreaks. These recurrent UTIs are caused by the same bacteria that never left. Separate, individual UTIs, spaced further apart, are more likely to be caused by new bacteria being introduced to the urinary tract.

rUTI is defined by the occurrence of 2 or more UTIs within 6 months, or 3 or more UTIs within 12 months.

Most antibiotics work by interrupting the bacterial division process. This is very important because if the bacteria are dormant, and not dividing, these antibiotics will not affect them.

Once antibiotic treatment is over, bacteria can quickly multiply within the cells, which causes an inflammatory response and UTI symptoms. As part of this response, white blood cells arrive but do not recognize the bacteria because they are hiding within the cells or biofilm.

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Once such a biofilm develops, whenever you get a UTI, instead of recovering completely, your body can be left with an embedded infection adherent to bladder wall, that is difficult to treat.

[healthwelnes]

🍒 CRANBERRY: The Natural Secret to Women's Urinary Health🌿

Welcome to Health & Wellness! Today, we're going to delve into an essential topic: urinary health. And to do so, we're going to discover how Cranberry, a fruit rich in nutrients and with incredible properties, can be a powerful ally for your well-being.

Let's explore all the benefits it can offer!

Did you know that more than 50% of women experience urinary discomfort at some point in their lives? In this video, we talk about the power of the cranberry, a fruit rich in proanthocyanidins, which helps fight urinary infections by preventing the adhesion of the bacteria E. coli in the urinary tract.

Scientific studies show that regular cranberry consumption can reduce the risk of infections by up to 40%, especially in women over 40.

Learn more about how cranberries can strengthen your urinary health and how they can be incorporated into your routine, whether in the form of juices, capsules or products such as the *FemiPro* supplement. For those who want to know more about the studies mentioned, check out the links to the scientific sources here in the description.

🔴 Did you like the content? Don't forget to like the video, subscribe to the channel and leave suggestions for topics you'd like to see here in the comments!

References and Scientific Sources:

1.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology: (https://www.ajog.org/)

2. Journal of Urology: (https://www.auajournals.org/journal/juro)

3. Journal of Natural Products: (https://pubs.acs.org/journal/jnprdf).

#Cranberry #UrinaryHealth #Women'sHealth #FemiPro #NaturalCare #uti #urinarytractinfection #urinaryhealth #utiprevention #naturalremedies #bladderhealth #Women'sUrinaryHealth #cranberrybenefits #cranberrysupplement #UrinaryInfectionWomen #UrinaryIncontinence #FemaleUrinaryIncontinence #urinaryincontinenceinwomen #Urineleakage #cranberrysupplement, #female urinaryincontinencehometreatment #femaleurinaryincontinencehowtotreat #femaleurinaryincontinencenaturaltreatment

[healixhospitals24]

Urological Health for Women: Common Issues and Treatments

Urological Health for Women is a critical aspect of overall well-being that often goes overlooked. While many associate urology with men’s health, urology in women is equally important. From bladder issues to pelvic floor disorders, understanding the common women’s urological issues and their treatments is essential for maintaining good health. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various aspects of female urinary health and discuss the women’s urology treatments available at Healix Hospitals. Understanding Urological Health for WomenUrological Health for Women encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions affecting the urinary tract and pelvic floor. Unlike men, women are more prone to certain urological issues due to differences in anatomy, such as the shorter urethra, which increases the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Female urology care addresses these unique challenges and aims to provide effective solutions to improve women’s urinary tract health.At Healix Hospitals, our specialists in female urology care are dedicated to addressing a wide range of women’s urological issues. Whether you are dealing with bladder problems, recurrent UTIs, or pelvic floor disorders, we offer personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs.Common Urological Problems in WomenCommon urological problems in women can vary in severity, from mild discomfort to debilitating conditions that significantly impact quality of life. Here are some of the most prevalent women’s urological issues:Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): UTIs are among the most common women’s urological issues, with millions of cases diagnosed each year. These infections occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract, leading to symptoms such as burning during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine. UTI prevention for women includes good hygiene practices, staying hydrated, and urinating after sexual activity.Overactive Bladder (OAB): OAB is a condition characterized by sudden, intense urges to urinate, often accompanied by incontinence. It can significantly disrupt daily life and is a key focus in female urology care. Treatment options include lifestyle modifications, medication, and sometimes surgery.Pelvic Floor Disorders: The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, uterus, and rectum. Weakening of these muscles, often due to childbirth, aging, or obesity, can lead to conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Pelvic floor disorders in women are a major aspect of urological health for women and require specialized care

Continue Reading: https://www.healixhospitals.com/blogs/urological-health-for-women:-common-issues-and-treatments

[hoclinical]

H & O Clinical PLLC

Website: https://www.hoclinical.com

Address: 2025 Central Park Avenue, STE 203, Yonkers, NY 10710 and 10 North Wood Avenue, STE B2, Linden, New Jersey 07036, USA

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[johannestevans]

hi, unless i’m imaging things i think you’ve mentioned having written an article about different treatments for vaginal atrophy. do you have a link?

Hey there, Anon!

I have a big, exhaustive guide to vaginal and vulvar stimulation, and I do discuss the impact of vaginal atrophy and a few options toward treating it, but it doesn't go into specific detail.

Vaginal atrophy is caused by decreased estrogen production, and effectively what happens is that the soft, wet tissue on the inside of your vagina - the parts that are formed of mucous membranes - become thinner and dryer. This can lead to pain during sex, difficulty getting sufficiently loose or lubricated for penetration, and it can make the skin there tear a lot more easily, because when it's thinner it's less flexible and has less support from the surrounding tissues, not to mention the increased friction from lack of lubrication.

It's important to remember that while we're at our wettest during sexual arousal, the inside of the vagina - much like the head of the penis inside the foreskin - should always be a little bit wet. That wetness is really important to the vagina performing its regular activities, keeping itself clean and healthy, and not receiving too much friction just from things like walking around.

Even your rectum has important mucous inside it to keep things running a bit more smoothly and to ensure it's never too dry, and this is why too many enemas in a short period can be bad for your anal and rectal health, and your anus is a lot more closed naturally than your vagina, you know?

While more lube during sex is often the first thing people bring up in response to vaginal dryness, that's actually only one facet of potential issues - for people who are on T, for people going through menopause, for people who for whatever reason have an E deficiency or insufficient E in this area, it can cause other problems too - your vaginal canal might get a bit shorter, muscle weakness in the area (especially of the pelvic floor) can make you need to pee more often and more urgently, you might have some spotting, abdominal pain, uncomfortable or burning sensations when urinating.

In combination with the fact that vaginal atrophy can make you more prone to injury, your bacterial flora can be thrown out of whack by this process too, and these are really really important to maintaining a healthy vagina, producing appropriate amounts of discharge, but also to fighting off infection - vaginal atrophy is also associated with recurrent UTIs and other infections.

So, what can we do?

Firstly, pelvic floor exercises are unbelievably helpful, and everyone should be doing them regularly, regardless of gender or genital make-up.

Here's an NHS guide """for women""" but it mostly doesn't use any gendered language for your actual body parts:

These exercises will help strengthen your pelvic floor, and strengthening these muscles will not only help with stuff like potential urinary incontinence or give you a tighter grip that you can better control during penetration (more control in this area can also help you if you're prone to reflexive tightness under stress, e.g. with vaginismus), but when those muscles are stronger and have more density to them, they provide more support to the surrounding area, which can help blood flow and give more structure to the tissues we're trying to support.

Secondly, as well as good lubricants, there also exist vaginal moisturizers - depending on the extent of your atrophy and how much it's a problem (it might be worse, for example, at some points of the month than others), these might help - you apply them every few days and they help your vagina maintain its lubrication.

If pelvic floor exercises and lube and moisturizer isn't helping, your next step is different forms of estrogen - your medical provider will need to tell you what's available in your area and to you particularly, but there's honestly all sorts.

You can get topical estrogen gels and creams that you smear inside the vagina, you can get suppositories that you insert and are then absorbed, you can get rings that you insert and then stay in place for a few months, slowly releasing E over time.

If you're using testosterone, it's more likely that your medical provider would suggest these latter than taking E orally - the great thing about these topical applications is that the E stays very localised to your pelvic region where you need it, much like when you get an IUS and the progesterone stays relatively localised. Taking E orally, you're introducing estrogen to your whole system, and depending on your current hormone cocktail, it might be harder to figure out dosage and effect, especially over time.

If your medical provider hears you're experiencing vaginal atrophy and, if you say that lube and moisturizer aren't sufficient, they immediately suggest moving to vaginal dilators or pain killers, or if they talk about easing your "discomfort" during sex (especially with a presumed male partner) without talking about pleasure or satisfaction, or especially if you've brought up vaginal atrophy for reasons other than sex and their priority immediately jumps to the imaginary partner they want you to be satisfying, I would recommend getting a new medical provider as soon as possible, and probably telling that one to shut the fuck up.

Many doctors, as we know, are scumbags, but some particularly cunty ones' automatic focus for someone with a vagina is that you're providing sex to your (cishet male) partner - they automatically focus less on your pleasure or satisfaction, let alone your health, and more on the idea of reducing pain you're experiencing enough that you'll let that partner fuck you as much as they desire to.

This is not a medical provider that has your best interests at heart, and if they don't afford you humanity in this area, I would have doubts as to others.

If you're having difficulty with a medical provider, I would always, always advise:

Bringing a chaperone with you. You're entitled to a chaperone, you can always bring one, a lot of the time they'll want to say a chaperone can stay out of the room "for your comfort/privacy" but for your comfort and safety, you can also bring them in with you. A chaperone might be a friend or family member or partner, and they don't even need to say anything a lot of the time - just having a witness there can make a medical provider think twice about bullying a patient. I've served as a medical chaperone for quite a few friends, especially because I'm a thin white man, and even as a faggot, doctors humanise me slightly more than they do friends of mine who are perceived as women, who are POC, who are fat, etc.

Ask your doctor the reasoning behind denying a course of treatment, and ask them to document that they are refusing treatment at this time. Once they write it down, it becomes something that's documented and that they can't deny in court, which tends to make them a bit more flexible.

Don't be afraid to go into the doctor having done a bit of your own research. Doctors will tell you not to google things as many doctors have fragile egos and become nervous at empowered patients - with particularly egotistic doctors, you can always phrase your research in the form of questions to make them feel like you're appropriately aggrandising them. "Are there suppositories for this, or creams? Could my UTIs be related to my vaginal dryness? My mother mentioned vaginal atrophy during her menopause, but I didn't really understand what it was. Could you explain? Could that be me?"

Cisgender women are generally better doctors than cisgender men (statistically, despite being underpaid and underrepresented), but obviously cisgender people are often... very cisgender, and cisgender women can be even more painfully cisgender than cisgender men. Most providers won't bat an eyelid at you requesting a female doctor over a male one for a gynecological concern, but you can't go around asking for the most clocky doctor they've got in the back.

What you can do if you're having trouble at your GP is look for your local GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) clinic, and see if they'd see you and talk to you about vaginal atrophy - I know several trans people who work as nurses and practitioners in the GUM field, and in general, GUM practitioners will be way more chill about this field.

Unlike your GP, there's no chance of them getting flustered, nervous, or religiously conservative about sex or genitalia, and GUM practitioners are often more chill about queer, trans, and intersex patients because they already see us a lot more, whether because queer people are more on-the-ball about STI testing, or just because many of us enter sex work, and they're more likely to see sex workers. The benefit of this, though, is that you're almost certainly not going to be their first or only patient with x or y element of your body or identity, which can mean they humanise you a bit better and are generally less shit.

I hope that helps, Anon!

[carlyraejepsans]

Hey, if you don’t mind the question. What’s your opinion on Undertale Yellow?

8/10 game. pretty good at being a game, not so much at being an undertale story. the gameplay itself was fun, the area/puzzle designs too, the soundtrack was untouchable it literally gave me the same rush i felt hearing sburb initiation for the first time. minor NPCs designs were fun but the primary cast was too monotonous, tbh. (all the main characters have tall gangly very detailed designs save for like, axis). its attempts at landing Undertale's humor were quite often successful, but it held back on exaggeration and caricaturing its original characters which took away that oomph from the canon game. the character writing was... lacking. which is a pity.

i love fucked up women so i was really disappointed that every single one of ceroba's actions/ideas/influences on the story were nothing but an extension of her dead husband. when you take chujin away she's just... A Good Wife and Mother. or starlo's past love interest ig. i mean both dalv and martlet's backstory were tied to her family and we never see them interact at all. but they do have an established dynamic.... with the dead husband. again. UGH. she's just really wasted as a character (she and chujin should've BOTH been scientists and she should've continued the project AGAINST his wishes after he died. she's the main cast character, she should be the driving force in the narrative, not him—even if chujin sets the plot in montion by inventing the serum first).

I'm not a huge asgore fan—not that i dislike him, he's just not a character i care about all that much—so congrats to this game for making me say "he would NOT fucking say that". the "fuck the royals" subplot thing was really unnecessary. actually, that was a bit of a recurring thing in the game. suddenly introducing these Huge Social Dilemmas like labor exploitation, anti-monarchic sentiments, misogyny (bro who on earth "needs to take a wife" this is Undertale) everyone realizing that clover is a child, over exaggerating the violence at stake... while also attempting to maintain Undertale's careless, bouncy treatment of the situation. that's... not how things work. undertale is able to maintain its light tone BECAUSE it doesn't let you take those topics seriously, they're not meant to be. the fairytale-like king, the battles, the child protagonist, they're all set dressings for the REAL story and REAL power imbalance it wants to highlight: that between player and game characters. everything is in function of that. you take that layer of separation and make everyone aware that theyre violently attacking and killing a literal child... that's not. a good thing dude. if it's not gonna impact the tone of the story, why acknowledge it in the first place? it's just unnecessary

anyway flowey neutral run was really, really fun. his dialogue writing all throughout the game was very solid and i had a blast having him around. however, they shouldn't have tried to anticipate his character development. this game is a prequel, you can't do that without undermining his arc in the canon events. pacifist should've had him doubling down on his frustration from the neutral ending. i do all this work for you keeping you alive and you make the same mistake i did sacrifice yourself for them??? are you BRAINDEAD???? what I'm saying is he basically should've thrown the biggest tantrum of his LIFE. oh and in the NM run he should've been terrified when he lost control of the SAVE file. this is the first time it's ever happened to him and now he's gonna die for good. he wouldn't have gloated like he did.

if you want to hear more criticism along the lines of what i said then this post by the fantastic @andreabandrea covers a lot of what i also felt during the game. i know this might sound like a lot of negativity, but the fact remains that UTY was an absolutely phenomenal work of fan creativity the likes of which we have never seen before in the fandom. considering the quality and polish, i thought it only fair to approach it as the piece of art it is and give it my genuine thoughts on the matter.

overall, still a really fun way to spend the afternoon with a pal. so. thumbs up

[cagandante-communistoide]

a transfem who has not had bottom surgery goes to her gp for her uti. what does a transmasc who's had phallo do. is his gp gonna take him? is any regular urologist? where does he go for treatment? just hope he lives near one of the exceedingly few hospitals that performs that surgery and is familiar with neopenises? but for him it's just run of the mill transphobia right?

Urology is an unsexed field of medicine. He would, in fact, just go to a normal urologist. Everyone of any sex category or gender goes to the same urologist because the urethra is a nearly identical structure no matter what configuration you have.

There is not an equivalent to transmisogyny for trans men because, and get this: misandry isn't real. Feminized persons are oppressed for being socially classed as women, and transfems face more consequences for being feminized specifically than transmascs face for being trans, because men are not an oppressed gender class by themselves. You will never find a specific instance where the transmasculinized person faces more consequences for being trans than a transfeminized person, because we live in a patriarchy and misogyny is real. You are probably the person I attempted to genuinely explain transmisogyny to, and if so to you I ask: why do you have to make up a fictional situation where a trans man can't go to a non-sexed urology clinic instead of engaging with the actual facts I gave you about transfems being killed more, paid less and treated worse than you? Funny how when you actually measure the difference in how transmascs and transfems are treated, there is plenty of evidence that some people face transmisogyny and others categorically do not. edit: I actually received confirmation that this is a different person, which makes this actually hysterical. amiguite the conversation was not even about you!

[ukrfeminism]

One in every two women will suffer a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their life. 

But for women like Angela Dullaghan, what is usually an easily curable infection has ruled her life. 

The 61-year-old has suffered with chronic UTIs since childhood and estimates she has spent £9,000 on treatment.

"For years, I thought it was my fault," said Angela. "It impacted on my work, my relationships and my social life." 

Angela, who lives in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, said she had seen five NHS urologists since attempting to get treatment for her condition over the past two decades, and has often felt dismissed. 

Angela Dullaghan says she tried everything she could think of to get rid of her UTI

"One consultant said to me, it sounds as if you know more about this condition than I do," Angela said. 

Another high-fived her after she acknowledged it was unlikely he could help her, she added.

The Chronic Urinary Tract Infection Campaign (Cutic), an organisation campaigning for better recognition of the condition, said this lack of medical awareness is what pushed them start their work. 

"Around the beginning of 2016, a group of patients got together and decided that we really needed to do something," said Carolyn Andrew, one of Cutic's directors. 

Its first objective was to address UTI testing, as the tests available often fail to pick up on chronic and recurrent infections. 

This is something that Angela has experienced first-hand: 

"There have been times when I have been absolutely crying and pain and discomfort, send a urine specimen to the GP's surgery and there's nothing abnormal detected," she said. 

Christine Terzo says it is 'about time chronic UTI sufferers are listened to'

Christine Terzo, from Ruthin, Denbighshire, has also suffered with chronic UTIs at several points during her life, most recently for the past nine years. 

The 64-year-old, who was forced to retire early due to her condition, said it has "shaped her whole life."

Christine also said she was being told there was no infection in her bladder and denied antibiotics when she was in serious pain. 

"I had steroid cream. I had pessaries. I had oestrogen cream. I had all sorts of things when really all I needed was antibiotics," she said.

Prof Jennifer Rohn is part of a team trying to develop better testing and treatment for UTIs

Prof Jennifer Rohn from University College London, whose research focuses on chronic and recurrent UTIs, added "old-fashioned" tests used for UTIs can be especially bad at picking up on chronic infections. 

"Basically, the bacteria have ways of getting through the [bladder wall] and setting up shop inside the cells.

"And of course, when they're inside the cells, the immune system can't see them. Also antibiotics - most of them cannot get in there."

What is a UTI?

UTIs are usually caused by bacteria, most commonly from a person's own bowels, entering the urinary tract through the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body

Symptoms of UTI include a burning feeling on passing urine and the sensation of needing to pass urine frequently, fever, shivers and pain

Chronic UTIs can be caused by that bacteria entering the lining of the bladder

It was due to this lack of adequate testing and treatment available Dr Catriona Anderson set up her private clinic, Focus, where she often treats patients with chronic UTIs. 

There, the team uses more detailed tests which can identify bacteria in lower numbers. 

Cutic estimated 1.7 million women across the UK suffer with chronic UTIs, and Dr Anderson said it would be possible to run these sensitive tests in the NHS for that amount of people. 

"It's not easy to apply this sort of test to huge populations, but actually you can run it for the number of patients that have this condition," she said. 

'I felt listened to' 

Both Angela and Christine found relief in the past few years upon discovering Cutic's Facebook support group. 

They pursued private treatment with Prof James Malone-Lee - an expert in chronic UTIs - and other consultants at the Harley Street Clinic in London on the advice of other sufferers. 

"Finally, after 30-odd years, I felt listened to," Christine said of her first visit to the clinic. 

However, while both Angela and Christine are both now in treatment, their condition continues to impact heavily on their lives. 

Angela said that factoring in travel, accommodation, medication, and consultation, she has spent "in the region of £9,000" over the past seven years on her UTI, and still budgets about £100 a month to go towards medical expenses. 

Christine was referred to the only NHS specialist clinic in the UK, at the Whittington Hospital in London.

While this eliminated some costs, she still had to pay for the train fare to London and back to north Wales for her appointments, something that she acknowledges many people would be unable to afford. 

"I'm very fortunate, but it's still a chunk out of my money," she added. 

Christine Terzo says that before she began treatment, she thought she was having a mental breakdown due to doctors dismissing her condition

Raising awareness and making treatment more accessible is one of Cutic's main aims going forward, after they successfully helped have chronic UTIs added to the NHS advice page earlier this year. 

The group are also focused on raising recognition of the condition in children, with zero specialists being able to treat them. 

The Welsh government said: "Where possible health boards provide treatment locally but sometimes more specialist treatment elsewhere is needed.

"NHS Wales is developing a 10-year plan to detail how it will meet the standards set out in the Women and Girls Health Quality statement."

[ovaruling]

this is what i’ve been saying. when i beg ppl to just LISTEN for one single second abt how animal agriculture disproportionately affects women, this is an example of what i mean.

worldwide, women are overwhelmingly more affected by UTIs. there is an established and alarming link between animal agriculture, e. coli, and UTIs.

in addition to that, we are also still suffering globally from “the urinary leash.” Caroline Criado-Perez references this extreme disparity in Invisible Women. women have a lack of accessible, safe, sanitary restroom facilities across the world. this is a unique poverty of resources that exacerbates the conditions and symptoms of UTIs for women.

left untreated—or, i should say, for women denied access to proper and affordable treatment—UTIs can turn into a serious infection. we’re talking things like a kidney infection all the way to sepsis and potentially even death in extreme cases.

this is just one of the many ways we suffer more under our current system of food supply—which, i’ll remind you, is absolutely dominated by men both executively and politically (think government subsidies—the U.S. govt alone spends around $38 billion a year to subsidize meat/dairy industries, with less than 1% of that going to production of fruits and vegetables).

how many of those seeking care are women? do we really think our current healthcare system worldwide—not just the U.S.—treats women with the same concern and care as they do men? once again referenced in Invisible Women—in the U.K. alone, women are 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed after a heart attack. many of us know personally how deadly medical misogyny is. can you honestly say that there is zero link here? even if it’s 1%—is that an acceptable amount of women to sacrifice?

undermine me all you want—this is real. the connection here is real. animal agriculture and factory farming are a feminist issue because it is a major root whose effects meet our already abysmal care for women and ignite into disaster. it has got to be a feminist issue, whether we like it or not, because something has to be done, and men are never going to care enough to do it. our health and our safety is increasingly and increasingly at risk. no one wants to hear this or have this conversation, but it IS a serious issue, it IS getting worse, and continuing to ignore this connection will only contribute more to the ways in which we as women suffer in patriarchal society.

and before you come after me, i’m not even telling anyone what to eat here. literally all i’m saying is listen! have the courage to be CRITICAL of this industry and acknowledge the ways in which it harms women! be critical of it in the same way we all claim to be anti-capitalist on here. we have to hold this deeply male system accountable. we have to look this in the eye and notice the relationships between the way our food supply is held hostage and our health as women. we deserve to be much more angry about this.

[mithliya]

Why isn’t no one talking about toilet paper? When I visited UK, the transition was very hard. I used to shower every time I went to loo for BMs because even wet wipes didn’t feel okay. Yeast infections and UTIs are common among women. Here in India, women avoid proper treatment because of the stigma attached to it. Like how are they any different from conservatives?

oh my god yeah literally tho. for one im surprised theres even people teaching others online NOT to wipe back to front. youd think thats common sense but w/e i dont know ppl's life circumstances. secondly simply wiping is honestly inadequate lol like the bacteria is still there u just made sure its not all wet and messy and wont get all over ur undies. i think the fact that in my country women & men literally wash down there after using the toilet AND wipe helps minimise the risk of yeast infections & UTIs. but its also not gonna prevent it totally, bc i know a lot of women + girls who got it regardless (and no they weren't "filthy whores"...some of them are incredibly young & virgins. its extremely backwards that such things would even need to be specified).

also women's vaginal health is highly stigmatised in my country too. statements further stigmatising it from westerners online does not help. they couldve talked about how sexual activity plays a role & men being dirty plays a role without being weird about it & making it all about sexual activity (bc it isnt all about that at all.)

[hirsuteandcute]

Very long 3am medical vent - just getting this off my chest because I feel like I have no one to tell (and in case anyone has suffered a similar experience, if you manage to read it all)

I had a Mirena coil inserted last year after a course of hormone shots to (ideally) stop or significantly lighten my period and help with the debilitating pain from my ovulation and period. Tbh I don’t feel it’s really worked because I still have really bad pain and fairly heavy periods (as in more so than average). I think I accepted a while ago that barring a miracle I’ll probably always have worse than average periods due to PCOS and endometriosis (which also runs in my family unfortunately), so I’ve tried to be reasonable in my expectations.

I first went to the doctor with period woes when I was 15 or 16 i.e. roughly 11 years ago, and truly I feel like it has been 11 years of hell. Just pill after pill with different horrible side effects, ultrasounds where they make you fill your bladder up to bursting point and then proceed to push on it for 20 minutes, transvaginal scans where they stuff a big long probe in you and push it around, the God awful laparoscopy I had where the surgeon left the hospital before I even woke up from anaesthetic, so there was no one to actually explain what they did or found during the surgery and then sent me home two hours later with two packets of paracetamol, the hormone shots which induced menopause (my immense sympathy to everyone going through menopause, it was a nightmare and I’m dreading it now), and now this coil.

And the whole time - the WHOLE time, every treatment, every step of the way, I feel there has always been someone downplaying my experience and my pain. During the hormone shots I mentioned that I was experiencing severe fatigue, that I was at risk of losing my job because I was so exhausted to the point of not being able to function - the doctor’s reply was to tell me to test for Covid because that makes people very tired. Never mind the fact I literally had to show a negative test taken within the last 24 hours just to get in to the hospital. It couldn’t be possible that the intense hormones shots that were inducing menopause made me tired could it? No it has to be something completely unrelated that I was too stupid to realise.

6 months after getting my coil inserted I had severe cramps in my pelvis so returned to the doctor, they found out I had a UTI. “I was actually told (both by a retired gynaecologist, and by women who have/had a coil) that having a coil can increase the frequency of UTIs (something the doctor didn’t warn me of before inserting it)” I said to my gyno. “No” he replied “that doesn’t happen”

??? Okay, so there’s no chance that having a foreign object wedged in my literal womb could cause infection?? None at all?? Before the coil I used to get UTIs roughly once every two years, now I get them every six months. But there’s nooo way it could be related to the coil, because there’s no way he could be wrong right? I also mention that I feel I’ve gained weight and feel hungry all the time. “I don’t think that’s related, maybe you’ve been eating more during the lockdown”. Be so fr. Because as we all know increased oestrogen NEVER causes weight gain. I’ve also noticed my labia changing colour and a small freckle. Completely normal and random he says, nothing to do with the coil. Sure, never mind that it’s well established that increased oestrogen can also make your labia darker. But it’s just a coincidence, I’m being silly.

And recently I had what feels like to me that the straw that had broken the camels back. I had my first Pap smear two weeks ago. It was really uncomfortable, first because the nurse couldn’t ‘find’ my cervix so had to use a big speculum but whatever, it was tolerable. Then she tells me she can’t find the Mirena coil strings (you’re supposed to be able to feel the threads attached to the coil, similar to a tampon but much higher up and much thinner strings). Oh shit. She tells me that my GP can check it, she’s inserted coils before.

Cool, so she’ll be the expert. The examination from the GP was the second most painful thing I’ve experienced (first is the laparoscopy) and I’ve suffered broken bones, wisdom teeth removal, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, waxing, generally living with severe period pains etc. which is to say, I like to think I have a decent pain tolerance.

First she shoves the big speculum up there for honest to God 10 minutes, then her fingers, then the speculum again and something to scrape away internal discharge so she could get a clearer view of my cervix. I felt like she was ripping my cervix open. I got on the bus home and just openly started crying (thankfully it was mostly empty, I got a few weird stares and an older lady and the bus driver asked if I was okay which was nice at least). It was mortifying. I was in so much pain for a good five days. It hurt to go to the toilet, it hurt to sit on hard chairs, it just hurt all the time, and I was having brown discharge. On day three I called the GP’s reception because she didn’t warn me about all this and I’m concerned about how long it will last. When I call the GP is on her way out and won’t talk on the phone, she answers via the receptionist instead, “that’s not related to the exam. That shouldn’t be happening. Maybe you have an infection instead”.

ARE. YOU. SHITTING ME. And the thing is on the day of the exam the GP actually apologised because she acknowledged that it must have been painful for me and it was more difficult and long winded than usual. So the absolute audacity to act like what I’m going through has nothing to do with what she did. Oh, and she still can’t find the strings.

I’m just… so tired. I’m so tired of being treated like a human pincushion. I feel like a slab of meat on a butcher’s table honestly. My mum said to me “why didn’t you tell the GP the exam was painful?”. This question was tormenting me, I wish I had so much even though honestly, I think the GP would’ve tried to convince me to put up with it. But I couldn’t help but feel that it was my fault, that if I just said something I wouldn’t have needed to suffer so much.

As a patient you trust that your doctor has your best interest at heart and won’t put you through more suffering than necessary, that they want and know what’s best for you. Even after all my negative experiences I can’t help but naively believe that. But I just feel so hurt and betrayed. They really don’t care. I just feel like a number, like they’re just keeping their eye on the clock to get me in and out in the allotted time. I feel like before I’ve even finished describing my symptoms they’ve decided what they want to say or do, and have checked out. They get this glazed look on their face or this condescending smile on their face like they’ve heard it all before, and I’m some kind of hysterical hypochondriac making a big fuss over nothing. I just want to scream and cry and yell but I know that will make me look even more crazy and dramatic. It’s so unfair that when women have these conditions that can’t easily be solved the blame is put on us for being difficult, instead of the medical system for being so complacent about women’s health.

It’s not my fault, I didn’t choose to have such a difficult body, I don’t know why something as simple as a menstrual cycle which should come naturally, has to be so complicated for me. But I just feel so blamed and guilty for it, like it’s somehow my fault I can’t just get it together and make it behave and respond to treatment.

I’m going for another transvaginal scan today to see if they can find the coil (the appointments actually in 5 hours and I haven’t slept a wink - oops), and then seeing the gynaecologist tomorrow (the one that inserted the coil).

Tw for suicide mention

I’m just at wits end. I can’t keep living like this. To tell you the truth, I’ve really been suffering with suicidal feelings. It’s been a problem for me since I was 14, going up and down throughout life, and I was doing okay for a while, when I had the coil inserted I was so hopeful things would improve, but it’s just so bad now. I just can’t imagine a future like this, constant pain and appointments and random things being shoved up my vagina by strangers and speaking to apathetic doctors. It takes so much to wake up in the morning. No one in my life understands how upsetting this is for me and I don’t feel like I can tell them. I feel so ashamed for not being mentally stronger to just get through this. and throughout it I feel like the crazy nuisance lady who won’t shut up about her pain. Like when the doctors hear from me they’re like “ugh this one again, why can’t she just deal with it?”. Just so disappointing and stressful

[contentment-of-cats]

I am lucky.

It's hard to see in the middle of everything that's been happening to me and around me, but I am lucky.

Cancer:

I was lucky that someone finally ordered the CT scan that resulted in finding a 10cm tumor in my guts. I'd been trying since October of 21 only to be told 'menopause' and 'covid after effects' and basically anything for my GP to pocket the copay and get my out of his office. GP is no longer in practice - which is lucky for someone else.

I was lucky the morning I woke up in unbelievable pain that I could get to Cedars Sinai. The tumor was closing off my left ureter. I was in a bed within hours.

I was lucky to have changed my insurance to a Silver PPO from a Silver HMO - otherwise I'd be dead.

I am lucky to have had support on the work front - including six months of my rent paid from March to August, when I was a chemo'ed mess.

I was lucky to have young, aggressive docs and a knowledgeable, experienced, and highly skilled surgeon (if he does say so himself, and he does - often).

I'm lucky to be in remission, because colorectal cancer is a killer. It's estimated that about 53,000 people will die from it in 2023, about evenly split between men and women. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, and third in women. I know that it is likely to recur, and if it does it is likely to be fatal. I am lucky to have each day, as hard as some of them are.

Mother:

I am lucky to have seen her when she was still somewhat herself, back in Ferbruary of 2020, literally weeks before COVID hit. We discussed her selling the house and going into assisted living. I said I'd be back in a few weeks, having to go hold down the fort while my boss did some trade shows.

If she had been in assisted living, she likely would have died in that year, when at the peak of COVID, the local paper had eight pages of obituaries, and a six-week turnaround for cremation, nine weeks for burial/ennichement.

I kept her at home, buying her groceries, getting home repairs and upgrades done, keeping up the maintenance.

In March 2022, the week I was hospitalized, she developed a severe and almost fatal UTI. She was two weeks in the hospital, three in rehab, before being transferred to assisted living and ultimately to memory care.

I wanted to give her safety, comfort, and dignity for however long she had left. I've done that. It's a great place, she had friends, companionship, and care all the way.

If she dies on my birthday, then well, it's the last one she gets to torpedo for me. I've done what I feel is my duty, and if I also feel like it wasn't enough, I never was enough. Mom had her own trauma from two traumatized people. I can let go of it, but maybe not forgive the string-pulling and button-pushing. There's things you have control over, and things that you don't. I'm guessing about some of her motivations, but others were billboards 20-by-30 in blinking LED.

I'm lucky not to be more of a mess, lucky to have had good therapy and good friends.

Most of all, I am lucky to have had the friends around me. Even moreso as I come out of treatment and surgery and into remission, survivorship, and recovery. I am lucky that they understand that it's not over when the chemo stops. I love them dearly and am endlessly grateful to them.

[besthospitalindore]

The Impact of Stress on Gynecological Health

Stress is an unavoidable part of modern life, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. While it can manifest in various ways, its impact on gynecological health is a growing concern. In this article, we will explore how stress can negatively influence women's gynecological health.

1. Menstrual Irregularities 

Stress can disrupt the delicate hormonal balance in a woman's body, leading to irregular menstrual cycles. This may include missed periods, heavier or lighter flows, and more severe premenstrual symptoms. These irregularities can be distressing and may indicate underlying health issues that require attention from specialists at a Gynaecology Hospital in Indore.

2. Fertility Challenges

Chronic stress can impact fertility by interfering with ovulation. Stress hormones can disrupt the regular release of eggs, making it difficult for women to conceive. 

3. Increased Risk of Infections

 Stress weakens the immune system, making women more susceptible to infections like yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs). These infections can be uncomfortable and, if left untreated, lead to more severe gynecological issues. 

4. Painful Menstrual 

Cramps Stress can intensify menstrual cramps and exacerbate conditions like endometriosis. Women who experience severe pain during their periods should consult with gynecologists.

5. Mental Health Impact

Stress often takes a toll on mental health, leading to conditions like anxiety and depression. These, in turn, can affect gynecological health by disrupting hormonal balance and exacerbating symptoms. A holistic approach that addresses both mental and physical well-being is essential.

The impact of stress on gynecological health is undeniable. It can lead to menstrual irregularities, fertility challenges, increased risk of infections, painful menstrual cramps, and mental health issues. To ensure your well-being, it is crucial to seek care from a trusted Gynaecology Hospital in Indore. They can provide expert guidance, diagnosis, and treatment options tailored to your unique needs. Don't let stress jeopardize your gynecological health; take proactive steps towards a healthier, happier you by seeking professional care.

In conclusion, prioritizing your gynecological health in the face of stress is essential. Remember, a Gynaecology Hospital in Indore can provide the support and expertise needed to address these concerns effectively.