
Causes of Urinary Tract Infection in Females
In women, UTIs (urinary tract infections) happen when bacteria enter the urinary tract and affect your bladder, kidney, ureters, and urethra. Typically, it strikes women more than it does men. Furthermore, if the infection is restricted to your bladder, then it can be annoying, but if the infection reaches your kidneys, then it could cause severe health problems. It can be caused by bad hygiene, holding your pee for too long, etc. Moreover, you can face symptoms like a burning sensation or pain during urination, foul odour, cloudy urine, pelvic pain, etc, but you will be happy to know that it can be treated. So it’s better to understand the causes of urinary tract infection in females to get early treatment.
Causes of Urinary Tract Infection in Females
Kidneys: You can also develop a kidney infection if the UTI is not timely treated. The bacteria can ascend the kidney via the uterus and can lead to kidney infections. In addition, if women are less immune due to some disease or drug, bacteria can easily reach and affect the kidneys.
Urethra: In this case, when bacteria from the anus get into the urethra. Furthermore, some women use scented soaps, bubbles, etc., which means the things that cause chemical irritation, and then it also leads to UTIs. Infection in the urethra can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections.
Bladder: It is usually caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), bacteria which enter your bladder and cause UTIs, which further develop due to poor hygiene, like wiping back to front or using an unclean sanitary pad. Moreover, if you’re holding your pee for too long and develop some health issues from which you are not able to empty your complete bladder, then it can also be bacteria that cause urinary tract infection in females.
UTI risk factors in females
Risk factors | Details |
Female anatomy | As women have shorter urethras than men, there is less distance for bacteria to travel to the bladder. |
Catheters | These provide the pathway to the bacteria, especially in the hospital or after surgery. |
Chronic health issues | If women have high blood pressure, then they can develop a risk of UTI. |
Pregnancy | Hormonal changes in pregnancy. |
Menopause | Estrogen is reduced after menopause, which raises the risk of UTI. |
Age | Age can also affect UTI, as kids and older adults are more at risk of getting an infection. |
Physical intimate | Being physically active can also lead to UTI. |
Blockages | Kidney stones or blockages that affect the urine flow can also increase the risk of infection. |
Birth control | A certain type of birth control, the diaphragm, may also increase the risk. |
Recurrent UTI in women
Recurrent means the same situation happens again or is repeated. If you get a UTI within six months or three UTIs within a year, it causes a greater risk to your health. The symptoms that you can face in your body are:
- Passing a small amount of urine
- Cloudy urine
- Strong smell of urine
- Mild fever
- Blood in urine
- A burning and painful sensation at the time of urination
- A person might feel a frequent urge to urinate even when the bladder is not full.
So, if these symptoms return in a shorter period, like in 6 months, then this is a recurrent UTI in women, which is often caused by a bacterium called E. coli, which lives in your digestive tract, and sometimes it transforms from your rectum to your urethra. Moreover, it is also caused by:
- lack of correct treatment
- not peeing often enough
- lack of oestrogen
- Some bacteria hide in the bladder lining.
- Lack of treatment for kidney stones
- Immune system disorder
- Follow the improper hygiene after getting the treatment for UTI.
Prevention of recurrent UTI in women:
- Follow your doctor’s advice thoroughly after the first treatment.
- Stay hydrated
- Wipe your anus from front to back.
- Always pee after physical intercourse.
- Use birth control instead of the diaphragm
Conclusion
UTI is a very common condition that takes a toll on women’s lives and comfort if not treated in time. The good thing about UTI is that it is a treatable disease. Thus, consult with a urologist in Jaipur for the best and the accurate diagnosis if you have any symptoms of UTI. So early treatment of a UTI not only prevents discomfort but also protects your kidneys and health, with an infection that also solves the problem of recurrence of UTI.