If you are having trouble urinating and do not feel any sense of relief after you go, and if you keep feeling strong urges that you have to go but cannot go, you might be suffering from a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI is an infection in your body that will not go away until you treat it, but luckily, you can visit an urgent care center for help.

What Is a UTI?

UTIs are very common types of infections and can affect both men and women; however, they are more common with women due to the anatomy of the female body. A UTI occurs when bacteria gets inside the urethra and works its way up to the bladder, kidneys, and other parts of the urinary system.

When you have a UTI, you will have a very hard time urinating, and you will never feel like you can go as much as you need to. You may also notice that your urine looks different than usual, and you may even experience pain in your back and other parts of your body. If you are currently experiencing these types of symptoms and want relief for them, you will need to see a doctor, like those at Walk-In Family Medicine Center.

How Do Doctors Diagnose UTIs?

Visiting urgent care is a great option if your regular doctor's office is closed or booked for the day, and you can find out while you are there if you have a UTI or not. The most typical way doctors diagnose UTIs is through urine tests. The doctor you meet with will ask you to submit a urine sample in a small cup or jar. Once you do this, the clinic will test it to determine if you have an infection or not. Doctors are able to detect infections in urine by examining the number of white and red blood cells. If you are prone to developing UTIs, the doctor you see may recommend seeing a specialist to find out why you keep getting them and how you can stop this from happening.

How Do They Treat UTIs?

Like any type of infection in the body, a UTI will require taking an antibiotic. Antibiotics kill infections in the body, and this is typically the only option you have. The good news is that once you start taking this medication, you may feel relief from the symptoms in just a few hours or overnight.

If you think you might have a UTI, do not ignore the symptoms. Instead, visit an urgent care center to find out, so that you can receive medication to treat the problem.