Ep #7: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) with Dr. David Sheyn

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common health issue that affect millions of people each year. These infections can spread through any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Recurrent UTIs are especially troublesome and are more common in post-menopausal women.

In this episode of Our Womanity, Dr. Rachel Pope is joined by colleague Female Pelvic Medicine Division Chief at University Hospitals, Cleveland, and Associate Professor of Urology and Reproductive Biology at School of Medicine, Dr. David Sheyn. We answer two questions submitted by our listeners about UTIs:

Question 1: “I have been having recurring UTIs for the last 4 years and get about 6-8 a year. I just had a vaginal swab that shows the same bacteria in my urine. Could the bacteria be causing the UTIs without causing severe vaginal symptoms? I get dryness and mild itching at times but no obvious discharge so how do you treat in these situations?” 

Question 2: “How do I treat Aerobic Vaginitis? My doctors brush over it and don’t seem to know what to do. I get recurring UTIs and now I think they’re connected. I tried Metrogel (metronidazole) but Google tells me that it will not fight the bacteria. I also tried Boric acid for 14 days.”

Featured in this episode:

• UTI causes and symptoms
• Antibiotics, vaginal estrogen, and other UTI treatments
• Pelvic floor hypertonicity
• Condoms, spermicides, and genetics can cause infections
• Drug resistant bacteria

Are you 60 years of age or older? Help University Hospitals find a way to prevent infections in the blood. A clinical research study to evaluate an investigational vaccine in adults 60 years of age or older is now enrolling: https://en-us.embracevaccinestudy.com/ 

Submit your questions on anything and everything women’s health-related and we will answer them in one of our episodes.

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