23 Jul What are the Benefits of Getting a UTI Test at Your Home?

A urinary tract infection (sometimes called a UTI) is an infection that can affect any part of your urinary system, including your bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. Most UTIs affect the upper urinary system, which comprises your bladder and urethra.
Women are more likely than men to experience UTIs. This is because women have shorter urethras than men. Because your urethra is shorter if you are a woman, the bacteria that causes a UTI has a shorter distance to travel to get to your bladder. A woman’s urethra is closer to her anus than a man’s urethra, and the leading cause of bladder infections is E. coli, a bacteria found in stool. Certain contraceptives, such as spermicide and diaphragms, can also increase a woman’s chances of UTIs. Pregnant women or going through menopause are also at increased risk for UTIs.
Sexually active women are more likely to get UTIs than women who are not sexually active.
A UTI that only involves your bladder can be annoying and painful, and there can be serious consequences if the infection spreads to your kidneys.
This article will discuss the signs and symptoms of a UTI, what a UTI test is, how at-home tests work, and compare in-home testing to a clinic.

What are the signs and symptoms of a UTI?

UTIs do not always cause symptoms, but many times they do. The symptoms you may experience can vary depending on which type of UTI you have (there are three types). There are also some general UTI symptoms, including:

• A burning sensation when you urinate
• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• Cloudy urine
• Red, bright pink, or cola-colored urine (a sign of blood in your urine)
• Strong-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain in women, especially in the middle of your pelvis and around your pubic bone
• Urinating frequently in small amounts

The three types of UTIs are:

• Acute pyelonephritis (a UTI that affects your kidneys).
• Cystitis (a UTI that affects your bladder).
• Urethritis (a UTI that affects your urethra).

Acute pyelonephritis can cause high fever, nausea, pain in your back or side, shaking and chills, and vomiting.
Cystitis can cause blood in your urine, discomfort in your lower abdomen, frequent and painful urination, and pelvic pressure.
Urethritis can cause discharge and burn with urination.

What is a UTI test?

The most common test for a UTI is a urine test. Your healthcare provider will use a microscope to examine your urine sample. They will look for bacteria or white blood cells in your urine, both signs of infection. They may also take a urine culture to check for bacteria and yeast in your urine because bacteria and yeast can cause UTIs.
If more analysis and investigation are needed, your healthcare provider may recommend an ultrasound. Ultrasounds are used to obtain images of the inside of your urinary tract.

How do at-home UTI tests work?

You can use Concierge MD to have a UTI test done at home. If you choose this service, a trained member of our medical team will come to your home and provide you with the materials you will need to be able to collect your urine sample. These materials include a sterile plastic cup with a plastic lid and a label that identifies who the test is for.
You then take these materials into your bathroom and urinate into the provided cup. A certain amount of urine will be needed to accurately test the sample, so be sure to fill the cup at least to the marker of the minimum amount needed. This test is easier if you have a full bladder when you collect your urine sample.
When you are done, wash your hands, put the lid firmly on the cup, and ensure that the outside is clean and dry. When you come out of the bathroom, you can give the nurse your urine sample, and they will take it to our lab to be analyzed as described above.
When the results are ready, we will contact you to talk to you about your test results and any treatment that may be necessary.

Should I get an in-home test or visit a clinic for a UTI test?

In-home UTI testing is a popular option for several reasons. Firstly, it offers much more privacy and comfort than going to a clinic for a test. It also saves you a commute to and from a clinic for a test that will take just a few minutes to complete. Skipping the commute will save you money and time – the commute time and the time in the waiting room.
You can schedule a UTI test online from Concierge MD today.

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