A UTI or vaginal discharge can occur for many reasons, including infections or hormonal changes. At New Leaf Adult & Women’s Health NP, PLLC, Enjoli McQueen King, NP, offers UTI and vaginal discharge treatment. Call the office in Staten Island of New York City, New York, or book an appointment online today to learn more about UTIs and vaginal discharge.
A UTI occurs when bacteria enters the urethra (the hole where urine leaves the body) and moves upward toward the bladder. A UTI can cause a great deal of discomfort and even pain, but it’s a very treatable condition.
Women are more susceptible to UTIs than men, but both sexes get UTIs. Most people will deal with at least one UTI at some point during their life.
The symptoms of UTI can include:
You might also have exhaustion, fever, and chills.
The vagina produces natural fluids to help maintain the health of your tissues that line the vaginal canal and protect against germs and pathogens (which may cause infections). Vaginal fluids also act as a lubricant when you have sex.
Sometimes, hormonal fluctuations or irritation can result in the overproduction of these fluids and cause you to have vaginal discharge. Other symptoms of vaginal discharge can include: itching, burning, and pain or tenderness around the vaginal area.
The standard treatment for a UTI is antibiotics. Although the symptoms often resolve within a couple of days when taking antibiotics, it’s important for you to take the whole course of antibiotics, exactly as it’s prescribed, to fully eliminate the UTI.
Some patients may also need pain medication, like a urinary tract analgesic, to help alleviate burning and pain when they have a UTI. But these symptoms usually go away quite rapidly after starting an antibiotic.
For people who have chronic UTIs, the treatment approach may be different. In some cases, low dose antibiotics may be continued for six months or even longer. If the UTIs appear to be tied to sexual activity, a single large dose of antibiotic may be recommended after every sexual encounter.
Vaginal discharge treatment depends on the cause. If you develop discharge from an infection, antibiotics or other medicines can be prescribed to fight off the infection and help restore the natural balance of pH and flora in the vagina.
If discharge is a result of hormonal fluctuations, you might need hormone replacement therapy or laser therapy to restore your vaginal tissues. Other treatment options may also be available. Enjoli can discuss which treatment approach is best for you.
Call New Leaf Adult & Women’s Health NP, PLLC, or book an appointment online today to find out if you need UTI or vaginal discharge treatment.