Can You Get A Uti While Pregnant

How common are UTIs during pregnancy?

Expect between 2 and 13% of pregnant women to experience at least one UTI. Urinary tract infections in pregnancy: old and new unresolved diagnostic and therapeutic problemsSee All Sources [3] Because some pregnant women do not exhibit symptoms of a UTI, your healthcare provider will perform a clean void urine culture at your initial prenatal appointment.

Pregnant women experience kidney infections about twice as frequently as non-pregnant women. However, they are still quite uncommon, occurring in only 2% of pregnancies. Fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and back and lumber pain are among the symptoms.

Because every woman’s body is unique, it’s important to inform your doctor as soon as you experience any pain or discomfort, especially if you exhibit any of these common UTI symptoms: Trusted SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionUrinary Tract InfectionSee All Sources [4]

Burning sensation during urination

More frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate (though frequent urination during pregnancy alone is common and harmless)

Intense urge to urinate while the amount of urine expelled is small

Cloudy, dark, bloody or foul-smelling urine

Low-grade fever

Lower-abdominal pain or discomfort

Pain that occurs on one or both sides between the upper abdomen or on the back; this could indicate a kidney infection, which should be treated immediately

Chills, nausea, vomiting and/or high fever, which can be signs of a kidney infection

First Trimester

Approximately 41% of UTI cases are discovered during the first trimester. Due to the prevalence of UTIs in the first trimester, the U S. The Preventive Services Task Force advises having a urine culture and urinalysis performed at your initial prenatal appointment. This advice is still valid whether you have UTI symptoms or not.

Why Are UTIs Common in Pregnant Women?

The anatomy of your urinary tract actually changes during pregnancy. For instance, your uterus grows and can squeeze your ureters and bladder as your kidneys enlarge. This compression makes it harder to completely empty your bladder while pregnant. Additionally, the pregnancy-related rise in progesterone and estrogen levels can weaken your bladder and ureters. Additionally, pregnancy changes the composition of your urine, making it less acidic and more protein-, hormone-, and sugar-rich. That excess sugar, for one, can encourage bacterial growth. Pregnancy-related UTI risk is heightened as a result of all of the aforementioned factors. And for that reason, it is advised that all pregnant women receive a urinalysis and urine culture between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks, or at their first prenatal appointment.

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