Your physician has treated you for recurrent urinary tract infections.  There are many factors that can influence an individual's frequency of infection and severity of symptoms.  Some of the causes of urinary tract infections include:

Intercourse (pre menopausal women)
Incomplete bladder emptying (dysfunctional voiding)
Use of contraceptive devices (condoms, diaphrams, spermicide)
Bath additives (like bubble bath)
Hot tubs
Tight Jeans
Scented toilet paper
Catheters

Additionally, antibiotic use and over use is linked to significant resistance of the bateria to anti-bacterial medications and yeast infections.

Urology Northwest providers are interested in reducing the overall frequency of antibiotic use, decreasing antibiotic resistance and helping patients optimize the function of your urinary tract.
Therefore, Urology Northwest does not allow patients to "drop off" urine samples for lab testing and will not prescribe antibiotics over the phone.   Patients who think they have an urinary tract infection are asked to make an appointment.  Same day appointments are available with one of our providers.

You will have a physical evaluation performed including urinalysis and urine culture when indicated.    We employ combinations of hygience and natural therapies in an attempt to minimize the use of antibiotic therapy.   The appropriate use of natural therapies is determined by the patient's overall health, other medications being taken, allergies and most common causative organism associated with the patient's infection.

Your treatment plan may include one or all of the following:  consultation and follow up visits with a naturopathic physician to discuss natural therapeutic agents; A consultation and follow up visits with our nurse practitioner for pelvic floor rehabiliation to help with voiding dysfunction; Urodynamic testing; A consultation and follow up visits with our acupuncturist aimed to improve bladder function and decrease over active bladder symptoms; referral to our weight management program.