Some women get symptoms of bladder infections (UTI’s) but on evaluation the urine cultures keep coming back negative.  This can be perplexing to the patient and their physicians alike. Consider the comments by such a patient that presented to Dr. Fowler at Fowler Gyn International in Phoenix Arizona.

“When I first came to Dr. Fowler I was experiencing symptoms similar to that of a urinary tract infection. It turned out that an overdose of antibiotics I was taking for the urinary tract infection, which in fact I did not have, destroyed the good flora in my vagina. I went through great trauma: unable to sit due to discomfort, could not wear underwear, could not exercise, or have intercourse. After 4 months of the treatment prescribed by Dr. Fowler I am now able to do most everything I could do in the past. I am well on the way to recovery and am confident that the symptoms will resolve 100%.” P. Scottsdale , AZ

What many gynecologists and urologists fail to recognize is that women can get symptoms suggestive of UTI’s or even Interstitial Cystitis when it is neither; the unsuspected etiology has to do with the vagina. Here is how it happens: The vagina can experience bacterial flora shifts that result in irritating secretions. The vagina is composed of very tough and resilient ectoderm and is generally not affected by change in bacterial milieu. These secretions not only bathe the vagina but also the tissues at the opening of the vagina known as the vestibule. The vestibule is composed of endoderm and can get sensitized or become sensitive due to the secretions bathing it. It is within this tissue where the tube that comes from the bladder, the urethra, opens into the vaginal opening. When the vestibule is sensitized, it can irritate the opening of the urethra and result in urethral meatitis. This causes a feeling of urgency and frequency to urinate and burning at the opening on urination. To the patient this feels like a UTI, and to a provider it sounds like a UTI. But when urine cultures consistently come back negative, then some providers suggest that it may be interstitial cystitis, when in actuality it is neither. If a provider prescribes antibiotics, this can further damage the vaginal flora making the problem worse and prolonging the problem.

Based on research conducted, Dr. Fowler discovered that these recurrent UTI-like symptoms are often due to problems with the health or the maturation of the cells forming the mucous membrane of the vagina. This diagnosis can be confirmed by doing advanced testing on the vaginal fluid.  By identifying  the underlying cause, the experts at FGI are able to prescribe an effective treatment that will bring the vaginal micro-flora back into balance. If you would like to know what is involved in treating recurrent bacterial infections, then contact FGI at call 480-420-4001 to find out more, or you can visit them online by going to www.fowlergyninternational.com/