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Can You Get Pregnant With A Kidney Infection

Swollen Or Puffy Face

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Kidney Infection?

Why this happens:

Failing kidneys dont remove extra fluid, which builds up in your body causing swelling in the face.

What patients said:

My sister, her hair started to fall out, she was losing weight, but her face was really puffy, you know, and everything like that, before she found out what was going on with her.

My checks were always puffy and tight. Sometimes they would even hurt.

Don’t Ignore Your Symptoms

Don’t ignore bladder or pelvic symptoms, especially if you are trying to get pregnant. Although UTIs are unlikely to cause a problem with conception, early treatment decreases the risks to your pregnancy. In addition, encourage your partner to get an evaluation and treatment to protect his fertility if he has symptoms of a UTI or an STI.

What Is A Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection, often referred to as a UTI or urine infection, is an infection of the urinary system. Usually, a urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria from the anal or genital region spreading to the bladder. If left untreated, the infection can continue to spread, eventually reaching the kidneys in the upper urinary tract.

UTIs are a very common condition, mostly affecting women, although men can also develop UTIs. Symptoms can include frequent and painful urination, an odd smell to the urine, the presence of blood in the urine and pain in the lower abdomen. Fever, nausea and upper abdominal pain may be a sign that the infection has reached the upper levels of the urinary tract.

With prompt antibiotic treatment, most people recover quickly. However, if left untreated, a urinary tract infection can develop into a serious condition with a number of complications.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Utis

If you have a urinary tract infection, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Pain or burning when urinating
  • The need to urinate more often than usual
  • A feeling of urgency when you urinate
  • Blood or mucus in the urine
  • Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Chills, fever, sweats, leaking of urine
  • Waking up from sleep to urinate
  • Change in the amount of urine, either more or less
  • Urine that looks cloudy, smells foul or unusually strong
  • Pain, pressure, or tenderness in the area of the bladder
  • When bacteria spreads to the kidneys you may experience back pain, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

What Is The Difference Between A Uti And A Reproductive Tract Infection

Can a Kidney Infection Affect Pregnancy Test  Ayurvedic ...

The symptoms of both a UTI and a reproductive tract infection are similar. However, both these infections are quite different from each other. The urinary tract infection affects the kidneys, bladder and liver. On the other hand, a reproductive tract infection usually affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and other reproductive organs.

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Complications Associated With Kidney Infection

Acute pyelonephritis during pregnancy must be given the right medical attention as soon as possible. If it is left untreated, then the following complications might occur:

  • One of the first things that could happen if pyelonephritis is left untreated is the scarring of the kidney, which could lead to high blood pressure and kidney failure.
  • With the kidney not functioning at an optimum level, there are increased chances of blood poisoning. The bacteria infecting the kidneys could enter the bloodstream in this condition and cause blood poisoning.
  • The infection could also enter the amniotic sac and fluid causing an infection. This could lead to the rupturing of the sac and preterm delivery.
  • Preterm delivery will result in complications for the babys health including low birth weight.
  • In some cases when pyelonephritis is accompanied by a high fever, there could be a miscarriage.

Causes Of Urine Infections

Women are more likely to get urine infections than men. In women, the tube that carries urine out of the bladder is shorter than in men. So it’s easier for germs to get into a womans bladder than a mans bladder.

Pregnant women are also more prone to getting urine infections due to:

  • hormonal changes
  • the pressure of your baby and womb on your bladder, which may prevent it from emptying properly when you pee

You can reduce your chances of getting a urine infection in pregnancy by:

  • wiping yourself from front to back after going to the toilet or when you are washing your genital area
  • emptying your bladder before and after sex
  • going to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to pee

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Should I Go To The Er For A Kidney Infection

Urinary Infections

Should I go to the ER for a kidney infection? Kidney infections occur when bacteria from your bowel enter your urinary tract, causing an infection that requires medical attention. However, you may not need to visit the emergency room for a kidney infection if your symptoms are not severe. If you do believe youre having severe kidney infection symptoms, visit an emergency room as soon as possible.

Check out the answers to other ER-related questions:

Can You Get Pregnant If You Have A Uti Here’s What You Should Know

Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)

So you and your partner have been trying to conceive, which means lots of planned sex during your âfertile window.â And what often happens with a lot of sex? Yep â a urinary tract infection . But can you get pregnant if you have a UTI, or will the infection prevent conception?

It’s not exactly birth control â having a UTI doesn’t affect fertility and you can get still pregnant if you have one, according to the American Pregnancy Association . In fact, the APA noted that pregnancy can even cause a UTI because of the changes your uterus is going through and its weight on your bladder, preventing all of the urine from exiting. It doesn’t affect conception whatsoever, but it can affect other important things if left untreated.

What about other issues âdown thereâ that can cause infertility or other problems with pregnancy? If left untreated, bacterial vaginosis can affect your uterus and other reproductive organs from the rising bacteria, according to Burris. âChronic bacterial vaginosis can lead to pelvic inflammatory condition, which can cause infertility problems and potentially a miscarriage. Any known infection should always be addressed before trying to get pregnant, as drug options are more limited during pregnancy,â she says.

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What Are The Complications Of Pyelonephritis

Proper treatment of pyelonephritis may prevent serious problems. If untreated, it can lead to a bacterial infection in the bloodstream called . This can then spread to other parts of the body and cause serious conditions requiring emergency treatment.

Untreated pyelonephritis can also result in acute respiratory distress as fluid accumulates in the lungs.

Pyelonephritis during pregnancy is a leading cause of preterm labor, which puts the baby at high risk for serious complications and even death.

Do Utis Impact Fertility

No UTIs don’t affect your ability to conceive.

Also, despite what you might read elsewhere on the internet, a UTI can’t turn into pelvic inflammatory disease and impact your fertility either. PID comes from untreated sexually transmitted infections or a mix of bacteria that’s traveled up the reproductive system and caused an infection not UTIs. PID doesn’t even touch the urinary system.

What is true, says Dr. Luo, is that PID can be what’s called a polymicrobial infection an infection caused by the same fecal bacteria that lead to UTIs. In these situations, explains Dr. Luo, the fecal bacteria “travel up the reproductive tract instead of the urinary tract” and trigger the infection.

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Preventing Utis When Youre Pregnant

Having a UTI during pregnancy is no fun. It can put you and your baby at risk for future problems. To make matters worse, some women find they get UTIs repeatedly during pregnancy. Here are some things you can do to lower your risk of getting a UTI while youre pregnant.

Get regular prenatal care

Find a healthcare provider you trust. Follow their instructions throughout your pregnancy. The routine tests that are part of good prenatal care can detect a UTI and other medical conditions early, before they become a problem for you or your baby.

Stay hydrated

Drinking plenty of water is a key step in preventing and recovering from a UTI. Keep urine flowing through your system to help wash out any infection that might be getting started.

Prenatal vitamins

Protect your babys development, and keep your immune system working at its best, by avoiding any vitamin deficiencies.

Cranberry juice

The data around cranberry juice and cranberry supplements is mixed. Some large studies show that cranberries can prevent UTIs. Others say there isnt much effect. This may be due to different supplements containing different amounts of proanthocyanidin , which is thought to be the active ingredient. Either way, drinking cranberry juice every day can help you stay hydrated.

Probiotics

Preventive antibiotics

Severe Kidney Infection Symptoms

Kidney Disease In Pregnancy

Should I go to the ER for a kidney infection? Yes, if your symptoms are more advanced than those listed above. If you notice any of the following severe kidney infection symptoms, head to your nearest emergency room immediately:

  • Pain in your back, side, or groin
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • High fever
  • Shaking and chills

Certain individuals including pregnant women, young children, or those with weakened immune systems may need more specialized care if exhibiting severe kidney infection symptoms. Feel free to call your primary care physician or nearest Complete Care facility if you have any questions on where to take your loved one for treatment.

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Gi Issues Caused By Kidney Stones

Normally, kidney stones cause symptoms such as pressure and pain in your lower back, fever, frequent urination, discomfort urinating, and bloody or discoloured urine. However, sometimes kidney stones can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort.

If youre experiencing sudden low back pain and gastrointestinal discomfort, dont ignore the possibility that it might be kidney stones.

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How Can You Prevent Utis

When it comes to UTI prevention, rumors and misconceptions abound. But, for the most part, these are the typical prevention recommendations for people with recurrent UTIs :

  • A new birth control: If recurrent UTIs are caused by using diaphragms or spermicide, you can talk to your healthcare provider about alternative contraceptives.
  • Topical estrogen: If you’re getting UTIs because you’re postmenopausal, your healthcare provider may prescribe topical estrogen.
  • Antibiotic prophylaxis: If your UTIs can be traced to sexual activity, you might be prescribed an antibiotic prophylaxis, or a proactive course of antibiotics like Keflex or Cipro, and advised to take it before or after sex.

There are a few other possible methods that could prove helpful for UTI prevention, but the clinical evidence for them is lacking:

You’ve likely also heard about behavioral modifications you can make to reduce the risk of getting a UTI. Here’s where the science stands on some of the most common ones:

What about avoiding douches and “feminine hygiene sprays”? Doctors don’t recommend using either, but the reason isn’t to prevent UTIs: Douching changes the balance of “good” bacteria that lives in your vagina, which can cause yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis and any type of spray or deodorant that goes on the vulva can irritate it.

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Prevention Of Kidney Infection

There are many steps you can take in order to avoid a kidney infection during pregnancy. Some of them include:

  • Keeping yourself well hydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day. This will ensure that your kidneys work at the optimum level.
  • Practising good hygiene especially around the genital area.
  • With the opening of the urethra so close to the anus, it is important to clean the area well.
  • Use soaps and other products that are mild and hypoallergenic.
  • If you do have an infection, then avoid coffee and alcohol.

Kidney Infection And Stomach Pain

How do I get kidney disease? (What are the causes of kidney disease?)

If you have kidney infection, typically the infection will cause burning sensation or pain when you pee. Sometime pain may also be felt in other areas of the body.

For instances, stomach pain can also be one of the symptoms of the infection. Typically, it is felt in the lower abdomen. You may also have pain in your back, your side , or around genitals .

Your abdominal pain is likely to be associated with kidney infection if you also experience other symptoms of the disease. These include:

  • Problems associated with passing urine such as urinating more often than usual, you have cloudy-bad smell urine, unable to completely empty bladder, or persistent-strong urge to urinate.
  • Fever or feeling sick.
  • Tiredness . You can learn more about how kidney infection can contribute to cause fatigue in this section!
  • Changes in appetite, especially such as decreased or loss of appetite.
  • Diarrhea .
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    How To Treat Utis During Pregnancy

    The good news is that most UTIs are easy to treat, even when you’re pregnant. “Although there are some medications that pregnant women must avoid, most antibiotics are safe,” says Dana Rigsby Gossett, M.D., an Ob-Gyn at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “Any obstetrician will know which antibiotics to avoid, and the choice of antibiotic depends on a woman’s allergies and what trimester of pregnancy she is in. There are many different safe options.”

    How Should Pyelonephritis Be Treated

    As a general rule, if you develop pyelonephritis during pregnancy, youll be hospitalized for treatment. Youll be given intravenous antibiotics, probably cephalosporin drugs such as cefazolin or ceftriaxone .

    If your symptoms dont improve, it may be that the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the antibiotic youre taking. If your doctor suspects that the antibiotic isnt able to kill the bacteria, they may add a very strong antibiotic called gentamicin to your treatment.

    Blockage within the urinary tract is the other main cause of treatment failure. Its typically caused by a kidney stone or physical compression of the ureter by the growing uterus during pregnancy. Urinary tract obstruction is best diagnosed through an X-ray or an ultrasound of your kidneys.

    Once your condition begins to improve, you may be allowed to leave the hospital. Youll be given oral antibiotics for 7 to 10 days. Your doctor will choose your medication based on its effectiveness, toxicity, and cost. Drugs such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or nitrofurantoin are often prescribed.

    Recurrent infections later in pregnancy arent uncommon. The most cost-effective way to lower your risk of recurrence is to take a daily dose of an antibiotic, such as sulfisoxazole or nitrofurantoin monohydrate macrocrystals , as a preventive measure. Remember that drug dosages may vary. Your doctor will prescribe whats right for you.

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    Can A Urine Infection Affect My Pregnancy

    If you have a kidney infection when you are pregnant, you can feel very unwell. If left untreated, it may also cause problems such as early labour and/or a small baby. A kidney infection is uncommon but may develop as a complication from a bladder infection or from a urine infection. There may be no symptoms at first .

    Preventing Utis During Pregnancy

    UTI in pregnancy: Causes, risks, and treatments

    While UTIs might happen whatever precautions you take, a few steps can help reduce the odds youll suffer from a UTI during pregnancy:

    From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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    Female Utis And Ability To Conceive

    Urinary tract infections are common in women. However, although the lower urinary tract – bladder and urethra – sit next to the reproductive tract, a lower UTI in a woman is not a known conception problem. There are no reports of bacteria spreading from the urinary tract to infect the reproductive tract although the reverse can occur.

    Specifically, a urinary tract infection does not affect any of the following steps in fertility:

    • The ability of the sperm to reach the egg in the fallopian tube
    • The processes by which a sperm penetrates and fertilizes the egg in the tube
    • The ability of the early embryo to reach the uterus and implant in the lining

    How To Prevent A Kidney Infection

    Preventing a kidney infection is really all about preventing urinary tract infections and getting prompt treatment if you ever get one. Sorry, but dont rely on cranberry juice or supplements for thisthe science is far too mixed to consider either of these a definitive UTI-prevention method. Instead, whenever you feel a bladder infection coming on, make it a habit to drink enough water every day to stay hydrated. That will ensure youre peeing often enough to help flush out bacteria that could lead to an infection. The NIDDK recommends peeing as often as you get the urge, but definitely at least every three to four hours, since urine hanging out in your bladder for too long may help bacteria to grow, the organization says.

    Kaufman also stresses the importance of urinating like a fire hose after sex. It might even be helpful to skip peeing before sex as long as that doesnt make you uncomfortable, he says. This allows you to build up a forceful stream that may better help remove any bacteria that might have been pushed up there during sex.

    Also, we referenced this above, but its important to reiterate: After you pee , you should be sure to wipe from front to back, as wiping back to front can spread harmful bacteria from your rectum to your urethra, where it can cause an infection.

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