Do I Have a UTI?

A UTI is a bacterial infection anywhere in the urinary system. This can be in the kidneys, bladder, or urethra.

Most infections occur in the bladder or urethra and are relatively easy to treat. However if not taken care of promptly, those infections can spread to the kidney and become much more severe.

Symptoms alone are often thought to be good indicators that you have a UTI. However, there are other conditions that can mimick the symptoms of a UTI, so proper testing should be done.

There are three types of tests that are used to detect a UTI: the dipstick test, the urinalysis, and the urine culture.

Dipstick test - A chemical strip is dipped into urine that you've collected in a cup to analyze the acidity of the urine, how concentrated the urine is, and the levels of nitrites, leukocytes, sugar, blood, protein, ketones and bilirubin in the urine. I'll talk more about this test below.

Urinalysis - This is the process in the doctor's office where they examine the urine visibly, chemically, and microscopically. It analyzes all the same things done via dipstick test, but then also analyzes the urine for bacteria, yeast, parasites, casts, and crystals. According to the Mayo Clinic, urinalysis alone doesn't provide a definitive diagnosis.

Urine culture - Urine will be sent to a lab where drops will be placed on a petri dish to watch for bacterial growth. This typically takes, at minimum, 3 days. Cultures of the urine test specifically for microorganisms that cause infection. This is the gold standard for diagnosing a UTI.

The dipstick test is a test that is super easy to do on your own at home. You can purchase dipsticks to keep on hand, but you also need to know what the results mean when you use them. Arming yourself with the tools and knowledge to use them is the first step in caring for your own health concerns.

Acidity (pH) - PH can range from 1-14. The higher the number the more alkaline the urine is. The lower the number the more acidic the urine is. Bacteria has a more difficult time surviving in lower pH urine (but some can). Generally urine pH should be 4-8.

Specific gravity - This measures your kidney's ability to balance water and electrolytes. It doesn't specifically relate to bacteria or infection, but more to kidney function. Normal specific gravity is 1.005-1.030.

Blood - The presence of blood in the urine can mean a variety of things only one of which is infection. Other things this could signify are: inflammation, trauma, menstruation in women, side effects of a medication you're taking, stones, prostate problems or even cancer of the bladder or kidneys.

Leukocytes - Leukocytes are white blood cells. Having white blood cells in the urine doesn't always indicate an infection. Again, this could indicate other concerns like kidney stones, tumors, or inflammation. Small amounts of leukocytes can be normal.

Nitrites - If there are nitrites in the urine, there is a good probability that you have a UTI. Normal urine has nitrATES, but bacteria will turn those nitrATES into nitrITES. However if you have test strips that are kept in a screw top bottle, the chance for false-positives are increased due to air exposure.

Protein - Some protein in the urine is normal (ideally less than 30). Higher levels tend to indicate a bigger kidney issue, not necessarily a UTI.

Ketones - Ketones might be found in the urine in small quantities. Increased levels may indicate infeciton, or it may indicate diabetes, starvation, or that you're on a specific diet such as a Keto diet.

Glucose - Small amounts of sugar can sometimes be detected on dipstick tests. However, increased amounts tend to point more towards diabetes than a UTI. Increased sugar can produce an environment that's more suitable for bacterial growth and can increase the risk for a UTI.

Bilirubin - Normal urine does not contain bilirubin. Bilirubin is typically removed from the blood by the liver and becomes part of bile. If there is bilirubin in your urine, this could signify a liver issue.

As you can see of all the results you'll find on a dipstick test, only nitrites found in the urine indicate a high probability for a UTI. But even at that, there can be false-positives. A urine culture should always follow.

When a urine culture comes back positive for bacteria and a UTI is diagnosed, antibiotics are the medicine of choice. But I know you're here because you understand that antibiotics can lead to recurrent infections and more health problems in the future. So what can be done?

Diet - The majority of health issues that we deal with can be a result of the lifestyle choices we make. And one of the biggest lifestyle choices that can cause health issues is our diet. Increase your water intake, eat lots of fermented foods, and stay away from sweets and highly processed foods while in the midst of a UTI.

D-mannose - One of the most common bacteria that's found on a urine culture is E. coli. D-mannose is a sugar that prevents E. coli from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract. Just a scoop of D-mannose powder two or three times a day during a UTI can be enough to stop it in it's tracks.

Homeopathy - Homeopathy is a form of medicine that is safe and gentle without harmful side effects. Here are some of the most helpful remedies that can be used when in the throws of a UTI:

There are many more homeopathic remedies that can be used for UTIs. These are just the ones that I find to be useful a majority of the time.

When you are dealing with an acute UTI, you can use one or more of these remedies that best match the symptoms you are experiencing. Use them every 1-3 hours depending on the severity. If you find after 4 doses that you're not getting any relief, stop and reconsider your remedy choice.

For your convenience, I've added a UTI Support area in my Fullscript Dispensary where you can find many of these natural remedies should you wish to purchase them.