What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

A UTI is an infection of any part of your urinary system, which includes your kidneys (where urine is produced), ureters (the tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder), bladder (where urine is stored) and urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder).

Women may be more likely to get UTIs because their urethra is much shorter than a man’s and is closer to their anus.

Men can also get UTIs; however, men who are circumcised are less likely to get them. UTIs in men tend to also become more common with age and in those with certain risk factors (but more on those later on!).

Are there different types of UTIs? 

UTIs may be referred to by different names depending on the part of the urinary system affected. For example:

  • Cystitis or a bladder infection is a UTI in your bladder
  • Urethritis 
  • Pyelonephritis or a kidney infection

Infections of the kidneys or ureters are also often called upper UTIs and can be serious if left untreated. Infections like cystitis and urethritis are referred to as lower UTIs and are generally a lot more common.

What are the symptoms of a UTI? 

The location of the infection can affect the types of symptoms you might experience.

The symptoms of a lower UTI – or bladder infection – typically include:

  • Pee that looks cloudy or contains blood
  • Strong need to pee more often than usual
  • Feeling pain, discomfort or a burning sensation when peeing (also called dysuria)
  • Having a sudden urge to pee
  • Pressure or cramping in the lower abdomen or back
  • Feeling as though you’re unable to fully empty your bladder
  • Feeling generally unwell, achy and tired
  • Having a very low temperature below 36°C

If the infection is left untreated and spreads to your kidneys or ureters, it is referred to as an upper UTI and could result in symptoms like:  

  • Fever (a high temperature of 38°C or above) 
  • Pain in your side or back
  • Flushed, warm or red skin
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Feeling restless or agitated
  • Mental changes or confusion (especially in older people)
  • Shivering and having chills
  • Severe abdominal pain (in some cases)

Some people can also experience what’s known as a recurrent UTI, where the infection comes back repeatedly over several months. This is usually defined as two or more episodes within a six-month period, or three or more episodes in a year.

If you experience any of these symptoms, find that they haven’t improved within two days or are simply unsure, always seek medical advice from a doctor or pharmacist. 

What are the causes of a UTI?

Most UTIs are caused by bacteria entering your body through the urethra and spreading to the bladder. Once there, the bacteria can then multiply and cause an infection.

While it’s not always clear why this happens, the bacteria may be able to enter your urinary system when wiping your bottom or having sex.

The most common type of bacteria known to cause UTIs in this way is Escherichia coli (E. coli).

UTI risk factors

There are several factors that may increase your risk of getting a UTI:

  • Age: older people are more susceptible to UTIs due to having a weaker flow of urine, meaning the bladder doesn’t fully empty. Those experiencing menopause may also have an increased risk of infection due to the lack of oestrogen causing vaginal dryness and irritation. 
  • Gender: women are more likely to get UTIs due to having a urethra that’s shorter and closer to their anus than men. 
  • Medical conditions: having diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, an enlarged prostate gland (in men) or a condition that obstructs your urinary tract, such as kidney stones, may all increase your risk of developing a UTI.
  • Pregnancy: being pregnant may increase the risk of bacteria getting into your bladder, so you should speak to your doctor if you experience any UTI symptoms during your pregnancy.
  • Medical treatments: patients who receive chemotherapy treatment or need to use a urinary catheter (a tube in your bladder used to drain urine) may be more susceptible to getting UTIs.
  • Contraception: using a contraceptive diaphragm or condoms coated in spermicide may increase your risk of developing a UTI. So speak to your doctor about alternative contraceptive methods you could use to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections and unexpected pregnancy. 
  • General health: being dehydrated, maintaining poor intimate hygiene and not fully emptying your bladder may all potentially make you more susceptible to getting a UTI.
  • Sexual intercourse: having sex with new, existing or multiple sexual partners may increase your risk of a UTI.

If you’re concerned about developing a UTI and would like some advice on what you can do to reduce your risk, speak to your local pharmacist or doctor. Alternatively, if you’d like some more advice about sexual health and contraception, visit your local sexual health clinic.

UTI treatment and prevention: how to find relief

While most UTIs will get better on their own within a few days, it’s important to book an appointment with your doctor if you notice UTI symptoms.

If a doctor or other healthcare professional thinks you may have a UTI, they may do a urine test, though this is not always needed. If you do, they may send your sample to a laboratory for further tests to identify which type of bacteria is causing your infection.

How UTIs are treated

There are several over-the-counter medicines you can take to help ease UTI symptoms.

If you have cystitis, CanesOasis® Cystitis Relief comes in easy-to-use sachets and is designed to relieve your discomfort by making your urine less acidic.  

However, go back to your doctor if you find that your symptoms get worse or come back again, as you might need an alternative treatment.

How to help prevent UTIs

As well as the various treatment options mentioned above, there are several things you can do to help reduce your risk of a UTI:

  • Go to the toilet as soon as you need to pee and always empty your bladder fully
  • Do not rush when peeing 
  • Pee as soon as possible after sex
  • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated (especially water)
  • Keep your genital area clean and dry
  • Wipe your bottom from front to back
  • Avoid drinking lots of alcoholic drinks and eating sugary foods or drinks
  • Avoid having sex if you have symptoms
  • Avoid wearing tight synthetic underwear, such as nylon 
  • Use an alternative type of contraception to those that have a spermicidal lubricant on them, such as diaphragms or condoms

Changing your bathing routine by having showers instead of baths and using gentle washes can also help prevent UTIs.  

For example, Canesfresh® Soothing Gel Wash allows you to gently clean and soothe your sensitive intimate area during any time of discomfort.

While things like cranberry juice and D-mannose are often said to help reduce your chances of getting a UTI, there’s limited scientific evidence to confirm these claims, so you shouldn’t solely rely on these as preventative measures.

Make sure to seek tailored advice from your doctor if you’re looking for further support.

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