Do you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), a yeast infection, or something else? Almost the only thing worse than coping with pain, scratching, swelling, or some other irritation in the general vicinity of your vagina: not understanding what is going on.
When you pray, you never have to pee again just to stop the agony, to work out exactly what's going on is a big step in seeking help. Any misunderstanding over the distinction between the UTI and yeast infection just makes the entire thing more complicated.
It's not odd or rare to be unsure about the disorder you have. Yet, it is important to realize the difference so that you can seek the best possible treatment.
Yeast Infection
Yeast infection occurs when candida builds up and causes inflammation. Common signs include scratching, burning, and a heavy, unpleasant discharge.
However, merely having yeast or yeast turn up on pap test results doesn't mean that something is necessarily wrong or that an infection is present. It becomes an infection if it triggers signs such as redness, burning, swelling, itching, and irregular discharge. People get really concerned about it, but it just happens to be there, and it's not dangerous.
Urinary Tract Infection
UTIs occur when bacteria from your gut reach your vagina and enter the urethra and the bladder.
Symptoms include feeling like you need to pee constantly, discomfort or pressure when you urinate, and blood in your urine. If the infection spreads to the kidneys, you may feel back pain along with a fever, and you may be very ill if you are untreated.
The most common reason a person would encounter UTI is if they have a female reproductive system since the anus is closest to the urethra and the urethra is shorter. Sexual activity will also trigger gut bacteria and other bacteria to the region where the urethra is, and sex can potentially push these bacteria up the urethra.
How to Deal With Yeast Infection or UTI
In most hospitals and pharmacies, over-the-counter remedies for yeast infections can help. As for UTIs, about half of patients feel that they can overcome them on their own, particularly if they have a healthy immune system.
But if you have recurrent signs of UTI, it's a positive indication that you should visit your family doctor. To avoid antibiotic resistance, they should send the urine to a lab to determine which bug caused the infection so that they can pick the correct drug to treat the same bacteria instead of guessing.
