Urinary Tract Infection - What Causes It?

An enlarged prostate or Prostatitis is fairly common among middle-aged men, especially above the age of fifty. In this condition, the prostate gland becomes enlarged which then presses against the urinary tract and constricts it. This constriction causes difficulty in emptying the bladder. The residual urine then becomes a fertile breeding ground for bacteria. Remedies include medications and surgery to reduce the size of the prostate.

Women have a shorter urinary tract owing to female anatomy. This enables the micro-organisms responsible for UTIs to travel up to the bladder far more easily and result in an infection. That s why it is very important that women don t hold back urine and are more careful in maintaining hygiene as they are more susceptible to urinary tract infections.

One of the reasons women are encouraged to pee after sex is to ensure that any bacteria that may have been pushed up into the urethra is forced out while urinating. It has been seen that sexually active women are at a larger risk of developing Urinary Tract Infections as harmful bacteria present within the vagina can get pushed up into the urinary tract. Also, if women have a new sexual partner, they may introduce new bacteria within the vagina which may cause UTIs as well.

While there are many symptoms of UTI and it may differ from person to person, one common symptom is passing frequent urine which tends to be in very small quantities. This is the only proper sign of UTIs. Some people may complain about foul-smelling urine while others talk about cloudy urine. Even the burning sensation may not be present with every case of UTI. Thus, if you are urinating way too frequently than normal over a prolonged period with no other symptoms present, it could be a sign that you have UTI.