Bacteria do not have as far to travel to infect the bladder because a female has a shorter urethra than a male. Because of this, bladder infections can happen more easily. Having kidney stones , a weakened immune system, or being pregnant makes it more likely a person will get a UTI. A review linked the following factors with RUTIs in otherwise healthy women:. Some specific ways of having sex make getting a UTI more likely. If people have anal sex, it is essential they wash their genitals before engaging in other sexual activities to reduce the spread of bacteria.
Males rarely get UTIs. If they do, it may be because they have an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate may mean the bladder cannot empty fully, leaving bacteria to multiply. A doctor may carry out the following tests to reach a diagnosis and understand why a UTI is recurring:. Doctors normally treat chronic UTIs with antibiotics.
They may suggest either:. Drinking cranberry juice is a popular home remedy for UTIs. But there is little scientific evidence to suggest it is effective. However, a sugar found in cranberries called D-mannose shows promise as a home remedy to treat a UTI. More research is needed to confirm these findings. If a bladder infection remains untreated, it can spread to the kidneys, which is more dangerous.
If a person has a kidney infection , they may need treatment in the hospital. Rarely, chronic UTIs may cause sepsis blood poisoning if left untreated, which may be life-threatening. Vaginal estrogen may also help reduce the risk of UTIs in women during or after menopause. This is because of lower vaginal estrogen levels. Lower estrogen levels make it easier for bacteria to grow. Much like girls having higher rates of UTIs than boys, women have higher rates of UTIs than men because of their anatomy.
A woman's urethra is shorter than a man's. This makes it easy for bacteria to enter her bladder. This helps cut the chance of spreading bacteria from the anus to the opening of the urethra. Women may also notice more UTIs after sexual activity. Older post-menopausal women are also at a greater risk for UTIs due to lower amounts of vaginal estrogen, which can change the vaginal climate. Good bacteria can only grow in slightly acidic vaginal climates and this needs some estrogen.
Systemic estrogen replacement options like pills and skin patches do not help with this problem, but vaginal estrogen therapy can be helpful for certain individuals. Talk to your doctor to see if this is a choice for you.
Often, older adults can help stop UTIs by staying hydrated, using the bathroom and getting routine health exams to screen for health problems like high blood sugar that puts you at higher risk for getting a UTI. If you or a loved one wears adult diapers, it's very important to keep the genital area clean and to change them often. People with high blood sugar and vesicoureteral reflux are at higher risk of getting a UTI. Vesicoureteral reflux is when urine goes backwards from the bladder toward the kidney.
Over time, this reflux of infected urine may raise a person's risk for kidney damage. Vesicoureteral reflux is usually seen in children with UTIs compared to adults.
Additionally, some patients with kidney stones and indwelling catheters may also be a higher risk for getting a UTI. An indwelling catheter is a hollow tube that is placed into the bladder through the urethra and left inside your body. The catheter drains urine from your bladder into a bag outside of your body. A catheter-associated UTI happens when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the catheter and cause an infection.
Yun says that applying topical vaginal estrogen, such as estrogen cream, is helpful to combat this. Furthermore, menopause may also be associated with incontinence and incomplete emptying of the bladder, which can also put you at greater risk for UTIs. Diaphragms are shallow silicone cups inserted into the vagina as a form of birth control. They are used with spermicide , chemicals that prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Diaphragms and spermicides may also cause a change in normal vaginal flora, allowing colonization of bacteria that is more likely to cause UTIs, Yun says.
Additionally, a diaphragm that's too large could obstruct the urinary tract, however, this is a less likely cause. Douching is the practice of washing out your vagina with water or a store-bought mixture. This can also throw off the balance of normal flora in the vagina, which can allow for the overgrowth of bacteria that causes UTIs, Yun says. Plus, douching can increase the risk of other vaginal infections and irritations such as bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections.
Overall, Yun says gynecologists typically advise against douching. If you have recurring UTIs, there are some simple changes you can make that may reduce your risk.
According to Yun, these include:. If none of these do the trick and you still have recurrent UTIs related to intercourse, Yun says a single dose of antibiotics after sex may be prescribed to prevent infection. You would know that a UTI is related to sex if symptoms arise within the first few days after sex, typically within the first day after, Yun says.
Additionally, Ruiz says it may be helpful for someone with recurring UTIs to see a urologist if the above strategies do not help. A urologist can look at the bladder and determine if there is something anatomical going on that may be contributing to the UTIs. Luckily, there are plenty of preventative measures that you can take to ward off UTIs — such as urinating after sex, staying hydrated, trying different birth control methods, and taking cranberry supplements — and there are reliable treatment options that can bring you relief if you do get a UTI.
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