At least twice a month, senior Michelle Fredericks finds herself in what she describes as excruciating pain.

“It hurts so bad,” she said. “I can’t even explain it . it feels like your pee is on fire.”

The culprit? A simple bladder infection. Fredericks said she experiences chronic urinary tract infections. She is not alone, as nearly 20 percent of women who suffer from one UTI will suffer multiples in her life, according to Student Health Services. But as common as Fredericks’ infections are, she said she doesn’t like to talk about the issue because of the stigma surrounding UTIs.

“It’s embarrassing,” Fredericks said. “Because (UTIs) are normally associated with activity and . (people) think ‘oh, who did she have sex with?'”

With words like “burning sensation” and “urination,” nurse practitioner at Student Health Services Debbie Wright thinks it’s no wonder more people don’t know more about or talk openly about urinary tact infections.

“Because we have to talk about private parts, it’s ‘down there’,” she said. “We don’t have good words for that. What do you say? ‘It hurts when I pee, piss’? … It can feel uncomfortable.”

Wright said the clinic treats people for UTIs every day, adding that UTIs are one of the most common infections, second to respiratory infections.

A urinary tract infection is a painful infection caused by bacterial growth in the urinary tract, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Urine in the bladder is free of bacteria despite the surrounding area having normally growing bacteria, called normal flora. Infections occur when bacteria enters the urethra, according to Student Health Services.

Most UTIs are mild and can clear on their own, but should be treated to prevent further systemic complication, such as a kidney infection.

Women are more likely to get a UTI because of their anatomy, Wright said. Women have a smaller urethra so the bacteria have a smaller distance to travel to the bladder, she added. Although UTIs can be contracted through sexual activity, many cases are non-sexual, Wright said. Improper wiping or washing are common causes of UTIs, and some people experience chronic UTIs, Wright said.

The most common UTI is caused by E.coli bacteria from the colon. UTIs occur frequently after someone has a new sexual partner and the body needs to adjust to new bacteria, Wright said.

The most common symptoms of a UTI include painful urination, blood in the urine as well as pressure in the pelvis, Wright said. Students should seek medical attention if they are experiencing pain. Students should also be seen to rule out any other types of infections that could cause similar symptoms, such as sexually transmitted infections, she said.

Treatment involves a round of antibiotics, whose length depends of the severity of the infection, Wright said.

While a UTI can be extremely uncomfortable upon onset, they do not need to be treated immediately, Wright said. If someone experiences pain and discomfort from a UTI overnight, he or she can avoid costly emergency room visits simply by taking an over the counter drug called EZO. The drug, which can be found at most drugstores, numbs the bladder, stopping the painful irritation, Wright said, adding that EZO tablets do not treat UTIs but are nice to take when a student wants to avoid going to an emergency room, or even an urgent care to pay for treatment.

Student Health Services does not charge students to be seen by a doctor, but does charge a $6 to $10 fee for antibiotic treatment.

Wright suggested students try at-home remedies to both prevent UTIs and to help alleviate the pain. Drinking plenty of fluids, urinating completely when going to the bathroom and wiping properly are a few things students can try. Drinking cranberry juice can ease pain because cranberries prevent bacteria from sticking to the urethra, Wright added.

Fredericks said drinking plenty of fluids and going to the bathroom at every sensation, even if there isn’t much fluid, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry supplements are also helpful at home treatments that have worked for her.

Wright warned if people start experiencing high fever or back pain, it’s time to go and seek more serious treatment.

“That’s not your normal UTI,” she said. “The treatment is for discomfort, but (it’s) to prevent further infections and problems.”