Effective Treatment for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Arizona

Urinary tract infections (UTI)s are very common. Most UTIs respond quickly to appropriate treatment.

A UTI is often called a bladder infection. However, a UTI can be an infection of the bladder, kidneys, ureters (the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder), or urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body).

Dignity Health provides complete care for UTI in Arizona. We have three exceptional centers of care in the Arizona area fully dedicated to women’s health services: 

• Chandler Regional Medical Center
• Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
• St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

Use our online Find a Doctor tool for appropriate UTI diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of UTI

Signs and symptoms of a UTI are:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Pain or burning with urination
• Pressure in the lower belly
• Urine that is cloudy, smells bad, or is reddish
• Feeling tired or sick
• Fever

Causes of UTI

UTI occurs when germs (b)acteria get into the urinary tract. Common causes of UTIs include: 

• Having sex. Sexual activity can push germs up a woman’s urinary tract.
• Wiping from back to front. Bacteria from bowel movements can enter the urethra.
• Using a diaphragm for birth control. Diaphragms push against the urethra and may cause urine to linger in the bladder, allowing bacteria to grow.
• Having a catheter to drain urine. When people are unable to urinate, medical professionals may insert a catheter, a thin tube, to drain urine.
• Changes in the vaginal environment. UTIs are common during menopause because hormonal changes make you more likely to get certain infections.
• Incomplete emptying of the bladder. If the bladder is not completely emptied, bacteria may grow. Some medical conditions, such as a kidney stone, make it hard to empty the bladder.

UTI Prevention & Treatment at Dignity Health

Prevention and treatment strategies can help you stay as healthy as possible. You may be able to prevent urinary tract infections by: 

• Urinating after sex to flush out bacteria
• Wiping front to back
• Urinating whenever you feel the urge
• Drinking lots of water
• Drinking cranberry juice
• Avoiding douching
• Wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear 

If you develop signs and symptoms of a UTI, see your doctor. He or she may order a culture of your urine to confirm the presence of bacteria and determine which antibiotic will work best. Antibiotics taken by mouth cure most UTIs in a few days. Your doctor may also give you medicine to help reduce painful urination while your body heals. Most women feel better soon after beginning treatment.

If you get many UTIs (three) or more in a year, your doctor may prescribe additional antibiotics and order tests to determine the cause. 

Dignity Health provides complete women’s health services, including treatment for UTI, in Arizona.