Where uti came from?

The following lifestyle changes can help prevent urinary tract infections:

Practicing good hygiene is one of the best ways to help prevent UTIs. This is especially important if you have a vagina because your urethra is much shorter, and it’s easier for E. coli to move from your rectum back into your body. Always wipe from front to back after a bowel movement (pooping) to avoid this.

During your menstrual cycle, it’s also a good idea to regularly change your period products, including pads and tampons. You should also avoid using any deodorants on your vagina.

Drinking extra fluids — especially water — each day can help flush out bacteria from your urinary tract. Healthcare providers recommend drinking six to eight glasses of water daily.

Peeing can play a big role in getting rid of bacteria from your body. Your pee is a waste product, and each time you empty your bladder, you help remove that waste from your body.

Peeing frequently can reduce your risk of developing an infection, especially if you get UTIs a lot.

You should also try to pee right before and right after having sex. Sex can introduce bacteria to your urethra, and peeing before and after sex helps flush it out. If you can’t pee, wash the area with warm water.

Some people have an increased risk of developing a UTI if they use a diaphragm for birth control. Talk to a healthcare provider about other birth control options.

If you use lubricant during sex, make sure it’s water-based. You should also avoid spermicide if you have frequent UTIs.

Tight-fitting clothing can create a moist environment, which promotes bacterial growth. You can try loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear to prevent moisture from accumulating around your urethra.

If you’re postmenopausal, a healthcare provider may suggest a vaginal cream that contains estrogen. These creams may help reduce your risk of developing a UTI by changing the pH of your vagina. Talk to a healthcare provider if you’re postmenopausal and get a lot of UTIs.

• Sex. We know, huge bummer.
• Constipation. You might be able to blame your poop (or lack thereof) for your UTI.
• Uncontrolled diabetes. “When blood sugar is high, the excess sugar is removed through the urine,” Hawes says.
• Holding it.
• Dehydration.
• Birth control.
• Feminine products.
• Kidney stones.

The kidneys control the amount of water in the blood and filter out waste products to form urine. Each kidney has a tube called a ureter, which joins the kidney to the bladder. The urine leaves the kidneys through the ureters and enters the bladder. The bladder ‘signals’ the urge to urinate and urine leaves the body through a tube called the urethra. The urinary system is designed to minimise the risk of serious infection in the kidneys. It does this by preventing the urine from flowing back up into the kidneys from the bladder. Most urinary infections are confined to the bladder and, while causing symptoms, are not serious or life threatening.

UTIs are caused by micro-organisms or germs, usually bacteria. The different types of UTI can include:

Common symptoms of UTIs include:

If infection reaches the kidneys, prompt medical attention is needed. In addition to the general symptoms of UTIs, a person with a kidney infection can also experience:

Bacteria do not normally live in the urinary tract. When bacteria enter the urinary tract and multiply, they can cause a UTI.

There are many germs that can cause urine infections or cystitis. The most common germ causing urinary tract infections is found in your digestive system, Escherichia coli (E.coli). E.coli can easily spread to the urethra and stick to the lining of your urinary system.

Germs such as Mycoplasma and Chlamydia can cause urethritis in both men and women. These germs can be passed on during sexual intercourse so both partners need medical treatment to avoid re-infection.

Some people may be at higher risk of infections due to the urinary flow being blocked or when the urine flows back up from the bladder to the kidneys.

UTIs are common, particularly with increasing age. Women are more likely to get a UTI than men. Nearly 1 in 3 women will have a UTI needing treatment before the age of 24.

In women, the urethra is short and straight, making it easier for germs to travel into the bladder. For some women, UTIs relate to changes in their hormonal levels. Some are more likely to get an infection during certain times in their menstrual cycle, such as just before a period or during pregnancy.

In older women, the tissues of the urethra and bladder become thinner and drier with age as well as after menopause or a hysterectomy. This can be linked to increased UTIs.

During pregnancy, the drainage system from the kidney to the bladder widens so urine does not drain as quickly. This makes it easier to get a UTI. Sometimes germs can move from the bladder to the kidney causing a kidney infection. UTIs during pregnancy can result in increased blood pressure, so it is very important to have them treated as soon as possible.

Women are more at risk of repeated UTIs if they:

Men can get UTIs, particularly if they have trouble with urine flow. Older men who experience prostatitis (an inflammation of the prostate) are at a higher risk. If the bladder is not emptying properly, the build up of urine makes it more difficult to cure the infection.

A small number of young men may get a UTI. In males, this is usually the result of a sexually transmitted disease.

People with diabetes are at increased risk of having UTIs as their urine may have a high glucose (sugar) content, which makes it easier for bacteria to multiply. Diabetes may also change the body’s immune (defence) system making it harder to fight a UTI. The risk of developing a UTI increases as diabetes progresses.

Chronic conditions, some medications, and problems with incontinence put older people at an increased risk for developing UTIs. People using bladder catheters are also more likely to develop a UTI.

Babies and children are at risk of UTIs. These infections always need to be investigated as they may indicate a serious underlying condition, such as urinary reflux. Reflux is caused by a bladder valve problem allowing urine to flow back into the kidneys from the bladder. Reflux can cause the urine to stay inside the body increasing the risk of infection. It may lead to kidney scarring, which in turn leads to high blood pressure and sometimes kidney problems.

Although not always backed up by clinical research, some women have found some suggestions useful in reducing their risk of developing urinary tract infections, including:

Cranberries (usually as cranberry juice) have been used to prevent UTIs. Cranberries contain a substance that can prevent the E. coli bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract lining cells. However, recent research has shown that cranberry juice does not have a significant benefit in preventing UTIs, and most people are unable to continue drinking the juice on a long-term basis. Let your doctor know if you are having cranberry juice as it can alter the effectiveness of some antibiotics.

It is important to seek medical attention if you think you may have a UTI – particularly if you think you may have a bladder or kidney infection, both of which are very serious conditions. Early treatment of urinary infection can help to prevent infection spreading to the bladder or kidneys.

A UTI develops when microbes enter the urinary tract and cause infection. Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs.

The female anatomy contributes to women's increased likelihood of contracting a UTI.1 A woman's urethra is shorter than a man's, allowing bacteria better access to the bladder. A woman's urethral opening is also close to sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina. Sexual activity can move bacteria to the urethral opening.

Having bacteria in the bladder does not always mean there is an infection. Like the bowel, the bladder has bacteria and other microorganisms that help to keep it healthy and functioning properly.

Some forms of birth control also increase the risk of UTIs. Spermicides can cause skin irritations that allow bacteria to invade. Diaphragms may slow urinary flow, encouraging bacteria to multiply. Unlubricated condoms or spermicidal condoms may cause irritation, which can help bacteria grow.1

The following factors also may encourage bacteria to grow:1

For information about UTIs in children, visit https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/urinary-tract-infections-in-children.

UI is caused by problems with the muscles and nerves that hold or release urine. These muscles include bladder muscles, which contract to force urine into the urethra, and sphincter muscles that surround the urethra, which relax to allow urine to pass from the body. Incontinence occurs if bladder muscles suddenly contract or sphincter muscles are not strong enough to hold back urine.

These muscles also help to hold the urinary tract in place, so if the muscles are weakened, they may not be able to keep the bladder or other structures in the right position in the body. These types of structural problems, such as when the bladder is out of position, can also cause UI.

UTIs, vaginal infections or irritation, and medications can temporarily cause or aggravate UI. Constipation and being overweight or obese put pressure on the bladder and its controlling muscles and can also cause or aggravate UI.

Other problems that can contribute to UI in women include:2

The Urology Care Foundation notes that different bacteria live on the skin or around the rectum and vagina. When the bacteria enter the urethra, they can travel to the bladder.

According to the NIDDK, the body usually flushes out the bacteria before they reach a person’s bladder. However, in some cases, the body is unable to do so, resulting in a UTI.

UTIs most commonly occur due to the following bacteria:

People of any age and sex can develop a UTI. However, some people are more at risk than others.

The following factors can increase the likelihood of developing a UTI:

The NIDDK notes that females are more likely to develop UTIs than males. This is because females have a shorter urethra, meaning the bacteria have less distance to travel to the bladder.

Additionally, the urethra is closer to the rectum, where the UTI-causing bacteria are present.

Going through menopause and using birth control methods, such as diaphragms or spermicide, can also increase the chance of developing a UTI.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant people have a higher risk of UTIs than other people.

Changes in the body during pregnancy can cause changes in the urinary tract.

Learn more about UTIs in pregnancy here.

Males share the same risk factors for developing a UTI. However, having an enlarged prostate is a male-specific risk factor.

A UTI develops when microbes enter the urinary tract and cause infection. Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs.

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection in your urinary system, including the

There are two kinds of UTIs: cystitis and urethritis. Cystitis is an infection of the bladder. Urethritis is an infection of the urethra. If left untreated, either of these can spread and cause a kidney infection. So even though UTIs are really common, you’ve got to take them seriously.

It’s pretty easy to get a urinary tract infection. Bacteria that live in the vagina, genital, and anal areas may enter the urethra, travel to the bladder, and cause an infection. This can happen during sexual activity when bacteria from your partner’s genitals, anus, fingers, or sex toys gets pushed into your urethra. UTIs can also be caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other organisms.

Although UTIs aren’t spread from one person to another like STDs, having sex can lead to or worsen UTIs. But you don’t have to have sex to get a UTI. Anything that brings bacteria in contact with your urethra can cause a UTI.

You’re more likely to get a UTI if you

Most people aren’t able to pinpoint the exact cause of their UTI because so many things can lead to it.

One of the most common symptoms of a UTI is a frequent and urgent need to pee. You might feel like you need to pee all the time, even if you just went. Other UTI symptoms include:

If the infection goes to your kidneys, your UTI symptoms may also include:

If you have any of these symptoms, tell your doctor right away. Kidney infections are serious and need to be treated immediately.