5 Things You Should Know About Urinary Infections

A urinary tract infection or UTI is a common infection that predominantly affects women. A UTI is caused by bacteria (or sometimes a virus) entering the bladder and multiplying. UTIs can lead to symptoms like pelvic pain, pain while urinating, an increased urge to urinate, and even more serious complications if the infection spreads.

Here are five important facts all women (and men!) should know about urinary infections.

#1. UTIs are very common
Urinary tract infections are extremely common in women. Unfortunately, there are about 150 million UTIs around the world yearly. Luckily, there are a multiple of home remedies for urinary tract infections that can help. The lifetime risk of a woman getting a UTI is about 1 in 2 and one-third get a UTI by the age of 24. The risk of getting a UTI peaks around sexual maturity and then increases against once a woman reaches about 50.

While it isn’t known why women get more UTIs than men, it’s likely related to several factors. A woman’s urethra, or the tube through which urine leaves the body from the bladder, is much shorter in women which makes it easier for bacteria to infect the bladder. A woman’s urethra is also closer to the anus which makes it easier for E. coli and bacteria to enter the urethra.

#2. Men also get urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections predominantly affect women with one-third of all women experiencing at least once UTI by the age of 24. Still, men can also be affected, especially as they get older. This misconception that men are unaffected can make it more difficult to diagnose a UTI in a man.

UTIs are very rare in young men, but they become more common over the age of 50. Risk factors for UTIs in men include diabetes, kidney stones, an enlarged prostate, an immune system disorder, or the insertion of a bladder catheter.

#3. There’s a strong link between UTIs and sex
Sex is one of the most common causes of urinary tract infections with women because it allows bacteria to enter the urinary tract. During sex, a woman’s urethra comes in contact with bacteria from the anus and genital area. A woman’s short urethra gives the bacteria an easy path to the bladder and potentially to the kidneys or bloodstream.

About 80% of pre-menopausal women with a UTI had sex within the last 24 hours, according to research. The use of a diaphragm can also increase the risk of a UTI as it prevents the bladder from completely emptying. Frequent sex, having multiple partners, and a first sexual encounter with a new partner are all found to raise the risk of a UTI.

#4. Cranberries may help
The research on the efficacy of cranberries, extracts, and juices for preventing urinary tract infections is conflicting, although some evidence suggests cranberry juice can reduce the number of UTIs over a one-year period among women who have recurrent UTIs.

Cranberries may help due to an active ingredient called A-type proanthocyanidins (PACS) that help keep bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. While researchers may disagree over how much cranberries can do, most say that they can’t hurt.

#5. A vaccination may be on the way
UTIs are common and are normally easy to treat, but many women have chronic urinary tract infections that can reduce quality of life and lead to other health consequences. When a UTI spreads, it can lead to acute kidney infection and even bloodstream infection. According to a new study, a vaccination may be on the horizon to prevent these more serious consequences.

Researchers found a key protein that bacteria use to attach to the bladder and cause urinary tract infections. When mice were vaccinated against the protein, it reduced the ability of the bacteria to cause disease. This study is important because UTIs are becoming much more resistant to standard treatments.

Despite these frightening facts, urinary tract infections are usually not serious aside from painful and annoying symptoms. Most UTIs can be cleared up naturally or with a course of antibiotics.