When a UTI Becomes “Complicated”: What Postmenopausal Women Should Know

EspañolFor many women, a urinary tract infection (UTI) is an uncomfortable but relatively straightforward experience: Burning with urination, frequent trips to the bathroom and a course of antibiotics to clear the infection.But sometimes, a UTI can become much more serious, or “complicated,” particularly when an infection moves beyond the bladder or happens alongside other health conditions that make it harder to treat.Mindy Norlian learned just how serious a UTI could become after years of frequent infections following menopause. At one point, while Norlian was at work, one of those infections progressed to sepsis, requiring hospitalization and IV antibiotics.“I started getting really sick and vomiting,” Norlian said. “They had to call 911 because I was delirious.”Norlian’s experience highlights why women, particularly postmenopausal women who are at higher risk for UTIs, should understand the difference between common UTIs and complicated UTIs (cUTIs), the symptoms of each, and when it’s time to seek medical attention. What is a cUTI? Simple, or common UTIs, most frequently occur in the bladder and are usually caused by a bacteria that’s easy to treat. Complicated UTIs are infect...