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Breaking Down the Stigma of UTIs

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at San Francisco chapter.

Attention ladies and gents – 

Did you know UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) affects about 3 million cases per year? Although it’s most common in females, males can contract them as well. With that said, why is it that genital infections & diseases are negated to be treated as blatant stigma in society?

Technology is efficient now more than ever, so you can google the symptoms for UTI in the palm of your hands. However, in my personal experience I experienced a constant need to pee – not that crazy, especially because I always hydrate throughout the day.

This time, it was different. When I would use the restroom, barely anything (sometimes nothing at all) would be released, yet after I would feel a stinging sensation, followed by drops of blood. I knew something was wrong. I went to the doctor the next day and was given antibiotics to treat my UTI.

And that’s the thing – the human body is a complex system. With all the bacteria and viruses in the environment, door handles and even our phones it would be nearly impossible to not contract anything.

Learning to take care of our bodies and prevent these infections from starting in the first place can benefit, yes. But if you do happen to catch anything, don’t be embarrassed!

You are not alone.

We’re all human. We’re imperfect. We’re real. That’s the jist of it all, we’re real. Don’t feel ashamed for something that society diminishes to be a negative concept – embrace the beautiful temple you own & identify as yourself. Be you, be proud.

Always look to seek help if you are exposed to anything new whether it be an expert, a friend, or family member – Her Campus San Francisco is currently hosting a giveaway where we are giving away a bunch of sweet goodies that also happen to include Cystex Urinary Pain Relief pills. We got you guys. Enjoy your spring break!

Hi, I'm Roxanne! Originally from San Diego, I came to San Francisco to achieve a sense of identity and independence. Currently attending SFSU as a first-year college student, I plan on double majoring in Child & Adolescent Development/Communication Disorders with a minor in Special Education. Hm... A writer at HCSF, yet NOT a journalism major?! What?! Well lovelies, college is all about finding yourselves & this could be one prime example of me doing just that or embarrassing myself in public. Stay tuned to find out ;-) With love, RR