The most common bacterial ailment in women of childbearing age is the urinary tract infection. To help women learn the best ways to prevent and treat this common ailment, we interviewed medical expert Dr. Sean Kenniff.

“Unchecked, UTI symptoms can cause intense pain, burning and urgency,” he explains.  “Many women perceive the pain as unbearable and are unable to work when symptoms are present,” explains Dr. Kenniff.

So what causes UTI?

A woman's likelihood of developing a UTI increases as she ages and goes through certain life stages. Other more common risk factors and triggers for a UTI include:

• Sexual intercourse, which can irritate the urethra, allowing bacteria to more easily travel to the bladder. Women who use diaphragms and/or spermicidal agents for birth control may also be at higher risk.


• Some medications which may lower immunity.


• Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.


• Diabetes or other chronic illnesses that may impair the immune system.


• Exposure to damp clothes, such as wet bathing suits, which can aggravate bacteria growth.

Dr. Kenniff suggests looking into the AZO line, which offers a variety of products that help prevent, diagnose and relieve the pain associated with a UTI. All products are available over the counter, and the AZO website, www.azoproducts.com offers many helpful tips and suggestions. If you have a UTI, the only cure is antibiotics, so consult your doctor. To watch this segment, go to: www.thebalancingact.com/azo