Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract and cause an infection. In most cases, bacteria from the gut enter the urinary tract through the urethra, which can happen when wiping the bottom or having sex. Women are more likely to get UTIs than men because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus, which allows bacteria better access to the bladder. Other factors that can increase the risk of UTIs in women include:
- Using a contraceptive diaphragm or condoms coated in spermicide
- Hormone changes, such as those during menopause
- Having a weakened immune system due to conditions such as diabetes, chemotherapy, or HIV
- Having a urinary catheter (a tube in your bladder used to drain urine)
- Having an obstruction in the urinary tract, such as kidney stones
- Not emptying the bladder fully
- Having a spinal cord injury
UTI symptoms most commonly cause problems peeing, including pain and cloudy or smelly urine. Other symptoms can include pain in the flank, abdomen, pelvic area, or lower back, pressure in the lower part of the pelvis, urinary incontinence, frequent urination, urge incontinence, pain when peeing (dysuria), blood in the urine (hematuria), pain in the penis, feeling extremely tired (fatigue), fever, and chills.
