Gynaecologist shares symptoms and causes of UTI during pregnancy: Know early warning signs, prevention tips

UTIs affect 10 percent of pregnant women, however, with the right precautions, it is possible to avoid infections, according to the gynaecologist.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) can happen to even pregnant women. Due to sudden hormonal and physical changes, pregnant women get susceptible to UTIs. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Shweta Mendiratta, associate clinical director-obstetrics and gynaecology, Marengo Asia Hospital,Faridabad said, “Urinary tract infection is common during pregnancy and occurs in up to 10 percent of pregnant women. If left untreated, the infection poses a risk.”

UTI during pregnancy: Early warning signs

Pregnancy-associated UTIs are either symptomatic or, in some cases, asymptomatic. Common presentations are:

• Burning micturition
• Increased frequency, with minimal output
• Cloudy and odorous urine
• Lower abdominal pain or pelvic pain
• Low-grade pyrexia (rarely)
• When the infection involves the kidneys (pyelonephritis), the symptoms are more pronounced and consist of high fever, loin pain, nausea, and vomiting and must be treated immediately.

Know the prevention tips to avoid UTI during pregnancy. (Photo by Ashton Mullins on Unsplash)

Causes and risk factors:

• Relaxation of the muscles within the urinary tract caused by hormonal fluctuations
• Compression of the bladder by the expanding uterus, leading to urine retention
• Presence of excess glucose in the urine, which facilitates bacterial multiplication
• History of UTI, diabetes, or weakened immune system raises the risk.

Prevention tips:

UTI prevention during pregnancy is the best method to avoid complications. Some of the effective prevention methods are:

• Drinking lots of water daily to flush out bacteria
• Frequent urination and not holding urine
• Wiping after a bowel movement from front to back
• Avoiding irritating products such as douches or scented sprays
• Draining the bladder prior to and after sexual intercourse
• Regular prenatal check-ups typically consist of screening of the urine to detect infection early, even without symptoms.

Safe treatments during pregnancy

Once UTIs are diagnosed, treatment should be initiated early to prevent kidney infection or preterm labor. UTIs are typically treated with pregnancy-compatible antibiotics such as amoxicillin, cephalexin, or nitrofurantoin, depending on the stage of pregnancy and the causative bacteria. One must complete the antibiotic course even if symptoms resolve. Hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics are used at times for serious and recurrent infections.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.