Urinary tract infection is a term that encompasses any infection of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. UTIs are very common among women, and they are usually no more than painful and annoying. However, if the infection spreads beyond your bladder to your kidneys, you are at risk for serious complications.
Causes
The urinary system is designed to keep out all microscopic invaders; however, sometimes these natural defenses fail, which is what leads to urinary tract infections. If bacteria are able to enter the urinary tract via the urethra and travel to the bladder, they will be able to take hold there and multiply, leading to the symptoms of a UTI. There are different kinds of bacteria that will cause different types of infections, including:
- Cystitis: Cystitis is an infection of your bladder. This is a type of UTI that is usually caused by the E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria, which is found in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract. Though you don’t have be sexually active to develop cystitis, your risk will be increased if your are having sexual intercourse often.
- Urethritis: This type of infection affects your urethra and it occurs when GI bacteria are able to spread from the anus to the urethra. Urethritis can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, herpes, and mycoplasma.
Risk Factors
There are many factors that can increase your risk for developing a urinary tract infection. These include:
- Sex: Women are at a naturally higher risk of developing UTIs than men are, mostly because of the way the female anatomy is set up. Women have a shorter urethra than men, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder, since it has a shorter distance to travel.
- Sexual activity: Increased sexual activity will increase your risk of developing a UTI, especially for women. Additionally, having multiple sexual partners will increase your risk as well.
- Menopause: After women go through menopause, there is a decrease in the amount of circulating estrogen in their bodies, which will make the urinary tract more vulnerable to infection.
- Birth control: There are certain types of birth control that will increase women’s risk for developing UTIs, including diaphragms and spermicidal agents.
- Suppressed immune system: There are certain conditions, like diabetes, that will decrease the effectiveness of your body’s immune system and make you more susceptible to infections such as UTIs.
- Recent urinary procedure: If you have any sort of procedure or surgery that involves your urinary tract, you will temporarily be at increased risk for infection.
- Abnormalities in the urinary tract: If you are born with any sort of abnormality that affects the way that urine leaves your body, this will put you at an increased risk for urinary tract infections.
- Catheter use: If you have to use a catheter for urine to leave your body, then this will make it easier for bacteria to enter your urinary tract and develop into an infection.
- Blockages in the urinary tract: Anything that causes an obstruction in your bladder such as kidney stones or enlarged prostate will increase your risk of UTIs.
