Lipa City Colleges

Anatomy and Physiology

Case Study 7
Reproductive System

Urinary Tract Infection

Genital Herpes
Chlamydia Trachomatis

Barrion, Galenn Jewel Ann G.

N1B

December 2021

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 Table of Contents
Urinary Tract Infection ................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3
Signs and symptoms ................................................................................................................... 3
Types of urinary tract infection............................................................................................... 3
Causes ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Pathophysiology.......................................................................................................................... 4
Risk Factors ................................................................................................................................ 5
Complications ............................................................................................................................. 5
Prevention ................................................................................................................................... 6
Citations ...................................................................................................................................... 6

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 Urinary Tract Infection
Introduction
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys,
ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the
urethra.
Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men. Infection limited to your bladder can
be painful and annoying. However, serious consequences can occur if a UTI spreads to your
kidneys.
Doctors typically treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. But you can take steps to reduce
your chances of getting a UTI in the first place.

Signs and symptoms

Urinary tract infections don't always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do they may
include:
• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine
• Strong-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the
pubic bone
UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions in older adults.
Types of urinary tract infection
Each type of UTI may result in more-specific signs and symptoms, depending on which part of
your urinary tract is infected.
PART OF URINARY TRACT AFFECTED SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
KIDNEYS (ACUTE PYELONEPHRITIS) Back pain or side (flank) pain
High fever
Shaking and chills
Nausea
Vomiting
BLADDER (CYSTITIS) Pelvic pressure
Lower abdomen discomfort
Frequent, painful urination
Blood in urine
URETHRA (URETHRITIS) Burning with urination
Discharge

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Causes
Urinary tract infections typically occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra
and begin to multiply in the bladder. Although the urinary system is designed to keep out such
microscopic invaders, these defenses sometimes fail. When that happens, bacteria may take hold
and grow into a full-blown infection in the urinary tract.
The most common UTIs occur mainly in women and affect the bladder and urethra.
• Infection of the bladder (cystitis). This type of UTI is usually caused by Escherichia coli
(E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However,
sometimes other bacteria are responsible.
Sexual intercourse may lead to cystitis, but you don't have to be sexually active to develop
it. All women are at risk of cystitis because of their anatomy — specifically, the short
distance from the urethra to the anus and the urethral opening to the bladder.
• Infection of the urethra (urethritis). This type of UTI can occur when GI bacteria spread
from the anus to the urethra. Also, because the female urethra is close to the vagina,
sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and mycoplasma,
can cause urethritis.

Pathophysiology

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Risk Factors
Urinary tract infections are common in women, and many women experience more than one
infection during their lifetimes. Risk factors specific to women for UTIs include:
• Female anatomy. A woman has a shorter urethra than a man does, which shortens the
distance that bacteria must travel to reach the bladder.
• Sexual activity. Sexually active women tend to have more UTIs than do women who aren't
sexually active. Having a new sexual partner also increases your risk.
• Certain types of birth control. Women who use diaphragms for birth control may be at
higher risk, as well as women who use spermicidal agents.
• Menopause. After menopause, a decline in circulating estrogen causes changes in the
urinary tract that make you more vulnerable to infection.
Other risk factors for UTIs include:
• Urinary tract abnormalities. Babies born with urinary tract abnormalities that don't allow
urine to leave the body normally or cause urine to back up in the urethra have an increased
risk of UTIs.
• Blockages in the urinary tract. Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate can trap urine in
the bladder and increase the risk of UTIs.
• A suppressed immune system. Diabetes and other diseases that impair the immune
system — the body's defense against germs — can increase the risk of UTIs.
• Catheter use. People who can't urinate on their own and use a tube (catheter) to urinate
have an increased risk of UTIs. This may include people who are hospitalized, people with
neurological problems that make it difficult to control their ability to urinate and people
who are paralyzed.
• A recent urinary procedure. Urinary surgery or an exam of your urinary tract that
involves medical instruments can both increase your risk of developing a urinary tract
infection.
Complications
When treated promptly and properly, lower urinary tract infections rarely lead to complications.
But left untreated, a urinary tract infection can have serious consequences.
Complications of a UTI may include:
• Recurrent infections, especially in women who experience two or more UTIs in a six-
month period or four or more within a year.
• Permanent kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) due
to an untreated UTI.
• Increased risk in pregnant women of delivering low birth weight or premature infants.
• Urethral narrowing (stricture) in men from recurrent urethritis, previously seen with
gonococcal urethritis.

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 • Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection, especially if the infection
works its way up your urinary tract to your kidneys.

Prevention
You can take these steps to reduce your risk of urinary tract infections:
• Drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Drinking water helps dilute your urine and
ensures that you'll urinate more frequently — allowing bacteria to be flushed from your
urinary tract before an infection can begin.
• Drink cranberry juice. Although studies are not conclusive that cranberry juice
prevents UTIs, it is likely not harmful.
• Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urinating and after a bowel movement helps
prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
• Empty your bladder soon after intercourse. Also, drink a full glass of water to help flush
bacteria.
• Avoid potentially irritating feminine products. Using deodorant sprays or other
feminine products, such as douches and powders, in the genital area can irritate the urethra.
• Change your birth control method. Diaphragms, or unlubricated or spermicide-treated
condoms, can all contribute to bacterial growth.

Citations
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-
20353447
https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/64419

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 Genital Herpes
Introduction
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus
(HSV). Sexual contact is the primary way that the virus spreads. After the initial infection, the
virus lies dormant in your body and can reactivate several times a year.
Genital herpes can cause pain, itching and sores in your genital area. But you may have no signs
or symptoms of genital herpes. If infected, you can be contagious even if you have no visible sores.
There's no cure for genital herpes, but medications can ease symptoms and reduce the risk of
infecting others. Condoms also can help prevent the spread of a genital herpes infection.

Signs and symptoms

Most people infected with HSV don't know they have it because they don't have any signs or
symptoms or because their signs and symptoms are so mild.
When present, symptoms may begin about two to 12 days after exposure to the virus. If you
experience symptoms of genital herpes, they may include:
• Pain or itching. You may experience pain and tenderness in your genital area until the
infection clears.
• Small red bumps or tiny white blisters. These may appear a few days to a few weeks
after infection.
• Ulcers. These may form when blisters rupture and ooze or bleed. Ulcers may make it
painful to urinate.
• Scabs. Skin will crust over and form scabs as ulcers heal.
During an initial outbreak, you may have flu-like signs and symptoms such as swollen lymph
nodes in your groin, headache, muscle aches and fever.
Differences in symptom location
Sores appear where the infection entered your body. You can spread the infection by touching a
sore and then rubbing or scratching another area of your body, including your eyes.
Men and women can develop sores on the:
• Buttocks and thighs
• Anus
• Mouth
• Urethra (the tube that allows urine to drain from the bladder to the outside)
Women can also develop sores in or on the:
• Vaginal area
• External genitals
• Cervix

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Men can also develop sores in or on the:
• Penis
• Scrotum
Recurrences are common
Genital herpes is different for each person. The signs and symptoms may recur, off and on, for
years. Some people experience numerous episodes each year. For many people, however, the
outbreaks are less frequent as time passes.
During a recurrence, shortly before sores appear, you may feel:
• Burning, tingling and itching where the infection first entered your body
• Pain in your lower back, buttocks and legs
However, recurrences are generally less painful than the original outbreak, and sores generally
heal more quickly.

Causes
Two types of herpes simplex virus infections can cause genital herpes:
• HSV-1. This is the type that usually causes cold sores or fever blisters around your mouth.
HSV-1 is often spread through skin-to-skin contact, though it can be spread to your genital
area during oral sex. Recurrences are much less frequent than they are with HSV-2
infection.
• HSV-2. This is the type that commonly causes genital herpes. The virus spreads through
sexual contact and skin-to-skin contact. HSV-2 is very common and highly contagious,
whether or not you have an open sore.
Because the virus dies quickly outside of the body, it's nearly impossible to get the infection
through contact with toilets, towels or other objects used by an infected person.

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Pathophysiology

Risk Factors
Your risk of becoming infected with genital herpes may increase if you:
• Are a woman. Women are more likely to have genital herpes than are men. The virus is
sexually transmitted more easily from men to women than it is from women to men.
• Have multiple sexual partners. Each additional sexual partner raises your risk of being
exposed to the virus that causes genital herpes.

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Complications
Complications associated with genital herpes may include:
• Other sexually transmitted infections. Having genital sores increases your risk of
transmitting or contracting other sexually transmitted infections, including AIDS.
• Newborn infection. Babies born to infected mothers can be exposed to the virus during
the birthing process. This may result in brain damage, blindness or death for the newborn.
• Bladder problems. In some cases, the sores associated with genital herpes can cause
inflammation around the tube that delivers urine from your bladder to the outside world
(urethra). The swelling can close the urethra for several days, requiring the insertion of a
catheter to drain your bladder.
• Meningitis. In rare instances, HSV infection leads to inflammation of the membranes and
cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
• Rectal inflammation (proctitis). Genital herpes can lead to inflammation of the lining of
the rectum, particularly in men who have sex with men.
Prevention
The suggestions for preventing genital herpes are the same as those for preventing other sexually
transmitted infections: Abstain from sexual activity or limit sexual contact to only one person who
is infection-free. Short of that, you can:
• Use, or have your partner use, a latex condom during every sexual contact
• Avoid intercourse if either partner has an outbreak of herpes in the genital area or anywhere
else
Pregnancy precautions
If you're pregnant and know you have genital herpes, tell your doctor. If you think you might have
genital herpes, ask to be tested for it.
Your doctor may recommend that you start taking herpes antiviral medications late in pregnancy
to try to prevent an outbreak around the time of delivery. If you're having an outbreak when you
go into labor, your doctor will probably suggest a cesarean section to reduce the risk of passing
the virus to your baby.

Citation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/genital-herpes/symptoms-causes/syc-20356161
https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(18)30106-4/fulltext

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 Chlamydia Trachomatis
Introduction
Chlamydia (kluh-MID-e-uh) trachomatis (truh-KOH-muh-tis) is a common sexually transmitted
infection (STI) caused by bacteria. You might not know you have chlamydia because many people
don't have signs or symptoms, such as genital pain and discharge from the vagina or penis.
Chlamydia trachomatis affects mostly young women, but it can occur in both men and women and
in all age groups. It's not difficult to treat, but if left untreated it can lead to more-serious health
problems.

Sign and symptoms

Early-stage Chlamydia trachomatis infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms. Even
when signs and symptoms occur, they're often mild, making them easy to overlook.
Signs and symptoms of Chlamydia trachomatis infection can include:
• Painful urination
• Vaginal discharge in women
• Discharge from the penis in men
• Painful sexual intercourse in women
• Bleeding between periods and after sex in women
• Testicular pain in men
Chlamydia trachomatis can also infect the rectum, either with no signs or symptoms or with rectal
pain, discharge or bleeding. You also can get chlamydial eye infections (conjunctivitis) through
contact with infected body fluids.

Causes
The Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium is most commonly spread through vaginal, oral and anal
sex. It's also possible for pregnant women to spread chlamydia to their children during delivery,
causing pneumonia or a serious eye infection in the newborns.

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Pathophysiology

Risk Factors
Factors that increase your risk of Chlamydia trachomatis include:
• Being sexually active before age 25
• Having multiple sex partners
• Not using a condom consistently
• History of sexually transmitted infection
Complications
Chlamydia trachomatis can be associated with:
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is an infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes
that causes pelvic pain and fever. Severe infections might require hospitalization for
intravenous antibiotics. PID can damage the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus, including
the cervix.

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 • Infection near the testicles (epididymitis). A chlamydia infection can inflame the coiled
tube located beside each testicle (epididymis). The infection can result in fever, scrotal pain
and swelling.
• Prostate gland infection. Rarely, the chlamydia organism can spread to a man's prostate
gland. Prostatitis can cause pain during or after sex, fever and chills, painful urination, and
lower back pain.
• Infections in newborns. The chlamydia infection can pass from the vaginal canal to your
child during delivery, causing pneumonia or a serious eye infection.
• Ectopic pregnancy. This occurs when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the
uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. The pregnancy needs to be removed to prevent life-
threatening complications, such as a burst tube. A chlamydia infection increases this risk.
• Infertility. Chlamydia infections — even those that produce no signs or symptoms — can
cause scarring and obstruction in the fallopian tubes, which might make women infertile.
• Reactive arthritis. People who have Chlamydia trachomatis are at higher risk of
developing reactive arthritis, also known as Reiter's syndrome. This condition typically
affects the joints, eyes and urethra — the tube that carries urine from your bladder to
outside of your body.
Prevention
The surest way to prevent chlamydia infection is to abstain from sexual activities. Short of that,
you can:
• Use condoms. Use a male latex condom or a female polyurethane condom during each
sexual contact. Condoms used properly during every sexual encounter reduce but don't
eliminate the risk of infection.
• Limit your number of sex partners. Having multiple sex partners puts you at a high risk
of contracting chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections.
• Get regular screenings. If you're sexually active, particularly if you have multiple
partners, talk with your doctor about how often you should be screened for chlamydia and
other sexually transmitted infections.
• Avoid douching. Douching decreases the number of good bacteria in the vagina, which
can increase the risk of infection.

Citation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chlamydia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355349
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-role-of-Chlamydia-trachomatis-in-the-of-female-
Ajonuma-Nathaniel/f979f4b31a62781bcba8932b18d24078b1d44d40

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