Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Risk Factors, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection of any part of the urinary system, which includes the urethra, kidneys, bladder, and ureters. Most of the time, infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra.
Women are at greater risk of a UTI than men because their urethra (the tube from the bladder to where the urine comes out of the body) is shorter than men’s. This means that it’s easier for bacteria to enter the bladder. In fact, females get UTIs up to 30 times more frequently than men do.
Risk factors
Some people are at higher risk of getting UTIs than others. As mentioned above, females are more prone to UTIs because they have a shorter bladder that is also closer to the rectum thus making it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract.
Other factors can also increase the risk of UTIs, including:
- Previous UTIs.
- Sexual activity.
- Pregnancy.
- Age: Older adults as well as young children are more likely to get UTIs.
- Poor hygiene such as in kids who are potty training.
- Structural problems in the urinary tract, like enlarged prostate.
- Changes in the bacteria that live inside the vagina or vaginal flora, e.g. menopause or the use of spermicides can cause such bacterial changes.
Causes
Many things can cause someone to get a UTI, but here are some of the most common causes of this painful and annoying infection. These include:
- Sex: A lot of women get UTIs after doing sex as its motion can transfer bacteria from the bowel or vaginal cavity into the urethra. To lower your risk of getting one, pee within half an hour of having sex.
- Constipation: How can you blame your poop for your UTI? Here’s how! If one has constipation, that makes it difficult to empty the bladder all the way, meaning that trapped bacteria have lots of time to grow and cause infection. Diarrhea can also increase your UTI risk because bacteria from loose stool can easily make their way into your vagina and urethra. Here’s a tip: Wipe from front to back whenever you use the bathroom, but be extra careful to do so after a bowel movement.
- Feminine products: Do you think those feminine products are doing you good? Not really, they are actually doing more harm than good to your vagina. They do smell good, however, they kill the healthy bacteria and keep the bad bacteria alive. This bad bacteria eventually enters the urethra.
- Holding your pee: Simply holding it does not cause a UTI. However, if the bladder isn’t emptied on a regular basis, it can lead to a UTI. This is because the bacteria are more likely to sit and multiply in the bladder.
Treatment
There are plenty of ways to treat a UTI, including:
- Drinking plenty of water: Even though urinating can be painful with a UTI, it’s important that you drink as many fluids as you can, especially water. In terms of a urinary tract infection, the more water you drink, the more you urinate, helping to flush harmful bacteria from the urinary tract.
- Peeing when you need to: A good rule of thumb is to always urinate when you feel the urge. As mentioned before, holding it or ignoring the urge to pee can allow bacteria to multiply in your urinary tract. In addition, it is a good idea to always fully empty your bladder. Peeing after sex is also important especially if you have a vagina. Plus, always wipe from front to back after urination.
- Washing genital areas properly: Proper washing does not involve stuff like douching or the use of scented products. Stuff like those can cause irritation down there. Instead, use a gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil.
Symptoms
There are several symptoms of urinary tract infections. These include:
- Pain or burning while urinating.
- Even though you have an empty bladder, feeling the need to urinate.
- Frequent urination.
- Bloody urine.
- Passing small amounts of urine.
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