{
  "id": 15967203,
  "title": "'Betrayed by my body': The taboo health issue women are talking about on social media",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/betrayed-by-my-body-the-taboo-health-issue-women-are-talking-about-on",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-21T23:03:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Health",
    "slug": "bbc-health",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwly3g0g371go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 29-year-old woman named Adrianne has been living with a chronic urinary tract infection (UTI) for nearly five years, despite initially being misdiagnosed with various other conditions. This debilitating health issue has impacted every aspect of her life, from her ability to work and maintain relationships to her social life. Adrianne's story is not unique - experts estimate that up to 1.7 million women in the UK may be affected by chronic UTIs.\n\nSocial media has become a platform for women to share their experiences and coping strategies for managing chronic UTIs, helping to break down the stigma surrounding the condition. Adrianne, who works in digital marketing in London, has found a supportive community of women sharing tips and understanding each other's struggles.\n\nA chronic UTI is an infection with persistent symptoms, even after a standard course of antibiotics. It can be caused by bacteria entering the bladder lining, and the condition can be unpredictable and debilitating. False negatives in diagnosing UTIs are common, and chronic UTIs can often be mistaken for other conditions like painful bladder syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, and endometriosis.\n\nHealth professionals should listen to patients' stories to accurately diagnose and treat chronic UTIs. While social media can be a valuable resource for sharing experiences and advice, there is also a risk of encountering misinformation and harmful \"hacks.\" Adrianne and other women hope that by sharing their stories, they can help demystify chronic UTIs and encourage more women to seek appropriate treatment.",
  "summary": "Women are sharing their experiences with chronic urinary tract infections on social media in an effort to break the stigma surrounding UTIs.",
  "key_points": [
    "Adrianne suffers from chronic UTI for five years, misdiagnosed initially",
    "Women share experiences on social media to break stigma",
    "Health professionals urged to listen to patients' stories for accurate diagnosis"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "'Betrayed by my body': The taboo health issue women are talking about on social media",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/betrayed-by-my-body-the-taboo-health-issue-women-are-talking-about-on-15977954",
        "published": "2026-10-21T23:03:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}