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Is It a UTI or Something Else?

UTI, Yeast Infection, Vulvodynia or PFD? The Guessing Game No One Wants to Play

Are you having pain down there? You might find yourself asking… is it a UTI or something else? Urinary tract infections, yeast infections, vulvodynia, and pelvic floor disorders are not only uncomfortable. They are also confusing, since symptoms can present similarly. The body can be a really good liar. Because of that, we have to be really smart when trying to understand it.

Understanding Common Infections: UTIs and Yeast Infections

Let’s start with everyone’s favorite: infections. UTIs are a fairly regular occurrence for women, but yes, men also get them. UTIs usually occur when bacteria enters the urethra. Yeast infections, true to their name, are usually caused by Candida albicans, a type of yeast.

Both UTIs and yeast infections can lead to pain when you urinate, also known as dysuria. Both can also cause discharge. That being said, yeast infection discharge can be “thick, white and clumpy,” according to OB/GYN Jill Purdie, M.D., quoted in Prevention. This type of discharge is not as likely with UTIs. With UTIs, discharge can also originate from the urethra when it is involved in the infection. With yeast infections, you commonly see vaginal discharge.

Key Clues That May Help You Tell the Difference

The presence or lack of itching or vaginal swelling can be a major clue. A lack of itching often points toward a UTI. The presence of itching or swelling more often suggests a yeast infection.

With a UTI, You may also have, in addition to painful urination with a UTI, fever and urinary urgency.

Putting on Your Detective Hat

When you start wondering which is which, it’s time to put on your detective hat. With UTIs, not drinking enough water and not urinating regularly can set you up for trouble. (six to eight glasses) of water matter more than you think.

So ask yourself: were you recently laser-focused on a Netflix show and forgot to drink water or get up to urinate . . . or both? If so, a UTI becomes more likely.

Yeast infections, on the other hand, sometimes happen after antibiotic use. Think back on your recent history. Another reason not to take antibiotics you don’t really need? Antibiotic resistance.

What to Do If You Suspect a UTI

If you suspect a UTI, a home test can be a helpful starting point, even though it isn’t perfect. From there, call your doctor to discuss next steps. They may order a urinalysis and a clean-catch urine sample.

What does that mean? According to Healthline, vaginal skin naturally has bacteria on it. You don’t want that bacteria to show up in the culture. If it does, it can taint the results and lead to inaccuracy.

When It’s Not an Infection: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Vulvodynia

Here comes the curveball, my friends. Pelvic floor dysfunction and vulvodynia can mimic UTIs and yeast infections.

With pelvic floor dysfunction, you can have frequent urination or back pain, similar to a UTI. You won’t have a fever, though. With vulvodynia, itching can absolutely be present.

Why Antibiotics Can Be Confusing

Here’s another layer of confusion. Antibiotics can sometimes make you feel better even if you don’t have a UTI. Yes, it’s true. I have seen people get some relief from antibiotics even when they don’t actually have a UTI at all.

This has been observed in people with CPPS, or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. In some cases, the relief may come from an undetected UTI. According to emedicine,  “Some patients with CPPS are maintained on long-term, low-dose regimens, such as one tablet of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Septra DS) daily. In some cases, patients experience symptomatic relief while on these regimens. Whether this is a reflection of the strong placebo effect associated with treatment of this condition or the result of suppression of an undetected pathogen is purely a matter of speculation. Studies suggest that, beyond the placebo effect, certain antibiotics may actually be providing an objective anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic benefit to these patients.”

If you don’t feel better after taking antibiotics for a UTI, that’s something to talk to your doctor about. The treatment may be ineffective at best. At worst, it can contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Trusting Your Body and Seeking the Right Care

Ultimately, you don’t want to spin your wheels longer than you have to. Doing so can leave you feeling worse than necessary. It can also allow something like a UTI to escalate.

Trying to figure out what’s going on can feel time-consuming and exhausting. Still, you don’t want to delay seeing a doctor for a UTI because you thought you could ease symptoms with yogurt. Knowing your body and communicating clearly can only help your provider at the end of the day.

Learning a lot from the blog? Catch up on previous updates HERE!

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How Power Peeing Can Affect Your Pelvic Floor Health

Why We Rush to Pee & What Is Power Peeing?

You have a job, kids, friends, a life. There are appointments, deadlines, obligations. It’s not uncommon for you to be moving at the speed of light. You may strain or push a little harder when you urinate, just to finish quickly. No big deal, you think. Maybe someone is knocking on the door in a public restroom. You feel anxious and squeeze that last bit of urine out hard. Perhaps you don’t even have to urinate, but you know you will be out for hours with no public restroom nearby. Sometimes the only options are gross ones. You use the clean bathroom at home and barely anything comes out. Still, you don’t want to feel uncomfortable later.

While these may seem like harmless things to do, they can actually hurt you. Pushing your pee out forcefully is called “power peeing,” notes Everyday Health, and despite the name, there’s no power in it at all: It can strain the pelvic floor muscles, which may result in pelvic floor dysfunction. It can even cause pelvic organ prolapse, says VeryWell Health. It’s important to understand how power peeing can affect your pelvic floor health.

Why “Just in Case” Peeing Isn’t Harmless

Meanwhile, peeing when you don’t really have to is not a good idea either, as you may eventually have to pee more often, according to urologist Lamia Gabal. This could train your bladder to have the sensation of needing to pee when you ingest less liquid than usual. That isn’t something you want.

How to Stop Peeing When You Don’t Feel the Urge

How then do you stop peeing when you don’t feel the urge?

Start with some simple research. Toilet apps that tell you where the nearest bathrooms are are a must before planning any trip. Here are a few trusted by the National Association for Continence. A good rule of thumb is to know where your local Starbucks, cafes, restaurants, libraries, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Targets, parks, and community centers are. These generally have working public bathrooms, although you may need to purchase something. (Or want to purchase something to support the store.) While you should always be well-hydrated, you may need to steer clear of carbonated beverages and alcohol, bladder irritants, or liquids that will encourage excess urination. If you urinate before you leave the house (also known as JICing, or “just in case” voiding) because of fear of incontinence, you may feel more secure with an incontinence pad or panty liner.

How to Avoid Power Peeing

To avoid power peeing, it’s helpful to determine if you absolutely can’t go without pushing or if it’s just a matter of bad habits. If you can’t go without pushing, that can be a medical issue like a UTI or bad constipation, which needs to be treated appropriately. If it’s more of an issue where you are doing it to save time, then The National Association for Continence provides some guidance on how to urinate. You should be in the correct voiding position (knees elevated and supported above the hips on a stool or yoga blocks and leaning slightly forward). It may sound weird to have to learn how to go to the bathroom all over again as an adult, but it’s worth taking some time to educate yourself.

A Gentle Reminder

You may save a few seconds by power peeing. You might avoid a trip to a less-than-clean public bathroom by urinating at home. But you could also spend more time at your doctor’s or pelvic floor therapist’s as a consequence. Everyday habits play a vital role in keeping your body working properly. Take them seriously and treat your body gently. Take it easy on the toilet and in everything you do. Your body will thank you!