One of the most irritating diseases that women are susceptible to is urinary tract infection or UTI. While both men and women suffer from this disease, it is more common in women.

If you ever have suffered from this disease, you will know what it feels like. Even if you haven’t chances are some woman in your family or friends group has faced it. The right kind of knowledge can not only help you deal with the disease but also prevent it.

And that’s exactly what we intend to do today. Let’s explore urinary tract infections together and find out the best ways you can prevent them.

Symptoms of UTI

Symptoms vary based on which part is infected by the UTI.

Causes of Urinary Tract Infections

Has your doctor ever told you to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom? That’s suggested to avoid contacting a UTI.

The urethra is the tube that takes urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It is located quite close to the anus.

Our large intestine contains bacteria such as E.coli, which can sometimes get out of the anus into the urethra. From there, they can travel up to the bladder. E.coli is the main cause of most UTIs. If the infection is not treated when it is in the bladder, it can continue up to the kidneys, making the infection more serious.

Women have shorter urethras than men, which makes it easier for the bacteria to get into the bladder. That’s why UTIs are more common in women than in men.

Common Risk Factors for UTIs

Now that we know the biology behind what causes UTI, let us focus on a more practical side and understand the risks which can help us take preventive measures.

Well, many factors can put you at an increased risk of contracting a UTI such as:

• UTIs are more common in older people
• Kidney stones
• Previous history of UTI
• Prolonged bed rest or reduced mobility after surgery
• Blockages or obstructions in the urinary tract such as kidney stones, enlarged prostate or some forms of cancer
• Using urinary catheters for a long time. Urinary catheters increase the chances of bacteria getting into the bladder.
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Abnormal urinary structures from birth
• A weak immune system

Women specifically carry some additional risk of contracting UTIs that are mostly linked to female anatomy.

Shorter urethra

Women’s urethra is located very close to the vagina and anus which increases the chances of developing UTIs as bacteria that normally occur around the vagina and anus can enter the urethra and move up to the rest of the urinary system. As the urethra is also shorter in women, the bacteria have to travel a shorter distance to enter the bladder.

Sex

Penetrative sex can put pressure on the female urinary tract which can make the movement of bacteria around the anus to the bladder easier. Bacteria can also be introduced into the urethra during oral sex, increasing the risk of infection. This is why, it is always suggested to urinate after sex to reduce the risk of infection.

Spermicides

Using spermicides, chemicals that stop sperm from getting into eggs can also increase UTI risk as they can disrupt the vaginal microbiome.

Using a condom during sex

Non-lubricated latex condoms can increase friction and irritate the skin during intercourse. This, in turn, can increase the risk of a UTI. However, condoms are beneficial for many reasons especially for preventing unwanted pregnancy and reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Using water-based lubricants during sex, while using condoms can irritate the skin lesser and reduce the risk of UTIs. However, avoid using condoms coated with spermicide.

Decrease in oestrogen levels

Women’s oestrogen levels naturally decrease after menopause. Oestrogen performs a lot of functions for a woman’s body including helping the vagina and urethra to stay moist, keeping the muscles of the urethra strong and raising the levels of healthy bacteria in the vagina and bladder. Lower oestrogen levels interfere with all these functions, thus increasing the risk of a UTI.

Diaphragms

Diaphragms are reusable birth control for women which are required to be inserted into the vagina to block the sperm from entering the uterus. Using diaphragms can lead to emptying the bladder less frequently, which in turn, can reduce the risk of bacterial infection.

Complications

If treated properly, UTIs, especially lower urinary tract infections rarely lead to complications. However, if left untreated, UTIs can cause serious health problems and complications such as:

• Repeated infections. When you have two or more UTIs within six months or three or more infections within a year, then it is considered repeated infections. This is quite common in women.
• Permanent kidney damage from an untreated UTI.
• UTI occurring during pregnancy reduces the risk of premature birth or delivering a baby with a low birth weight.
• A potentially life-threatening complication is sepsis. This risk intensifies when the infection travels up to the kidneys.

How is a UTI Diagnosed?

If you have any of the above symptoms, contact your doctor. It is better to get checked out than leave the symptoms untreated.

Your doctor will conduct one or more of the following tests:

• Analyse your urine sample: First, your doctor will ask for a urine sample to check for red and white blood cells or bacteria. You may be asked to first wipe your genital area with an antiseptic pad. You will also be asked to collect the urine midstream. Both of these are done to ensure the sample is not contaminated. During the test, your doctor will search for a higher number of white blood cells in the urine, which will indicate an infection.
• Urine culture: In many cases, your doctor will conduct a urine culture to understand what bacteria is causing the infection. This can help your doctor to understand which medications will work the best.
• Imaging the urinary tract: Sometimes recurrent UTIs are caused by a structural problem in the urinary tract. To understand this clearly, your doctor may order a CT scan, an ultrasound or an MRI. Some of these tests may use a contrast dye to highlight the structures of your urinary tract.
• Checking the inside of the bladder: Sometimes doctors order a cystoscopy for recurring UTIs to get a clearer picture of the urinary system. This is done using a cystoscope, a thin, long tube with a lens. The cystoscope is inserted into the urethra and passed through the bladder to visualise the entire urinary system.

Apart from the above, your doctor may conduct specific tests for specific types of UTIs:

• Upper tract UTIs: In addition to urine tests, in case the doctor suspects an upper tract UTI, they may want to do a complete blood count (CBC) and blood culture. This is done to confirm that the infection has not spread to your bloodstream.
• Chronic UTIs: Some people may develop chronic UTIs, a UTI that doesn’t go away after treatment and keeps coming back. For diagnosing chronic UTI, your doctor may order an ultrasound, intravenous pyelogram, cystoscopy and CT scan.
• UTI during pregnancy: It is essential to meet the doctor right away if you contract UTI during pregnancy. Having a UTI during pregnancy can lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk of premature delivery. There’s also a high risk of UTI spreading to the kidneys during pregnancy.

Preventing a Urinary Tract Infection – A Few Tips

So, can you do anything to prevent a UTI? The answer is YES. You can take a few precautions to reduce the risk of contracting UTIs or getting them again and again.

• Keep yourself hydrated: Drinking liquids especially water helps dilute urine. It makes you urinate more often, thus allowing the bacteria to be flushed from the urinary tract. This can prevent a UTI infection.
• Drink cranberry juice: While studies about whether cranberry juice can prevent UTIs are not conclusive, it is popularly believed to prevent the infection. Most importantly, cranberry juice is tasty and there’s no harm in drinking it, right?
• Wipe from front to back: This is a very important action that can prevent the spread of bacteria from the anus to the vagina and urethra. Do it every time you urinate or after a bowel movement.
• Urinate after having sex: This ensures the bacteria are flushed. Drinking a glass of water can help you pee.
• Avoid any feminine product that irritates your vaginal area: Some products such as sprays, powders, deodorants and douches can irritate the genital area. It is better to avoid them.
• Choose your birth control method wisely: Some birth control methods such as diaphragms, unlubricated condoms, and spermicides can lead to bacterial growth. It is better to avoid them and opt for ones which are less irritating to your vaginal area.

Sources:

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes
• https://www.webmd.com/women/your-guide-urinary-tract-infections
• https://www.healthline.com/health/urinary-tract-infection-adults
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/diagnosis-treatment
• https://www.verywellhealth.com/urinary-tract-infections-coping-support-and-living-well
• https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control/diaphragm