UTIs Are Common In Pregnant & Non-Pregnant People
Pregnancy doesn’t make a person any less susceptible to , new research shows. In fact, as they are in non-pregnant people.
According to the (CDC), as many as 10% of women experience UTIs in pregnancy, as the CDC warns that 1 in 10 women will experience one during or right before becoming pregnant. Additionally, many women are unaware they have a UTI, as up to 15% of urinary tract infections are asymptomatic.
The majority of UTIs are treated with antibiotics, even when pregnant. For instance, 30% of women who experience a UTI in pregnancy are treated with nitrofurantoin, whereas 10% receive a prescription for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
However, based on a study published in Birth Defects Research, the like trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin, or cephalosporins increases the risk of birth defects. As such, they warn that prescribing women antibiotics must be done carefully in pregnancy.
Dr. Lisa Wynn, an obstetrician at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital in Colorado, recently echoed these same sentiments to .
“UTIs during pregnancy are as common as they are in non-pregnant women,” she explained. This is why it’s common to screen expecting people for UTIs several times throughout pregnancy, Dr. Wynn adds.
UTIs are caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli, which is also known as E. coli. This bacterium is usually found in the intestines and anus but can spread to the urethra and cause an infection, such as during sex. UTIs in pregnancy is caused by the same bacteria, but there are a few reasons pregnant women are more vulnerable to infection.
For one, hormonal changes caused by pregnancy make the body more susceptible to infection. For example, the hormone causes the urethra to relax and enlarge, opening it up to bacteria. Additionally, the immune system is weaker during pregnancy, meaning the body isn’t as capable of fighting off invading bacteria.
According to Health, the following signs may indicate you’re suffering from a UTI during pregnancy:
Pain in pelvic region
Urine has a foul smell
Frequent need to urinate
Burning sensation when urinating
Can only pass a small amount of urine
Urine is a pink, red, brown, or cloudy color
UTIs, in general, can cause health complications if not treated, but this is even more pressing during pregnancy when fetal and are both at risk. If you show any of these symptoms, or have reason to believe you’re suffering from a UTI (as not all infections exhibit symptoms), we encourage you to reach out to your health professional as soon as possible.
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