All the facts are in: Women are more prone to urinary tract infections than men.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, more than 50% of women will have at least one case of UTS in their lifetime. And the symptoms are often troublesome, such as frequent urination and abdominal pain, both of which are recurring, especially when either of these two things occurs:

Home therapies used to suppress the infection tend to work at first, but the bacteria will not be eliminated; or

  • A woman is exposed to a different bacterial strain.
  • Still, these do not explain why women are at higher risk of contracting urinary tract infections. Any one or a mixture of these variables may be the culprits.

Reasons Why Women are More Likely to Get UTI

Anatomy

When the Escherichia coli bacteria from the outer genitals and the region around the anus reach the urinary tract and hit the bladder, women get UTI. In these areas, E. coli strains are naturally present, which places women at an even greater risk. As the urethra, the part that takes urine out of the bladder is short, the urinary tract can easily be reached by bacteria. In fact, contamination of the perineum region (between the anus and external genitals) and the urethral region is the most probable cause of urinary infection in women.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can cause hormonal fluctuations that increase the susceptibility of women to bacteria. Plus, anatomical changes are often induced, but these are mostly temporary. An expanding and strong uterus pushes on the bladder during birth, making it difficult for the urine to leave the urinary tract. It becomes a breeding ground for bacteria when urine remains in the bladder and thus places the pregnant woman at an increased risk of UTI.

Sexual activity

Intercourse can introduce bacterial strains into the genital and urethral region. Bacteria often linger in the urinary tract when women don't pee right after sex. This can cause them to spread, resulting in infection.

For women, it can help ward off UTI by paying attention to good hygiene, particularly when they are sexually active. Habits that can reduce the risk of getting an infection include peeing after sex and regular cleaning of the area.

Use of birth control

Some types of women's birth control make women more prone to bladder infections, such as spermicidal agents and diaphragms. Many spermicides include nonoxynol-9, a toxic chemical that is associated with an elevated risk of urinary tract infection. On the other hand, the diaphragm can bruise the areas next to the bladder, making it easy for bacteria to adhere to the inner linings.

Menopause

Women also become more vulnerable to UTI as they get older. Bacteriuria may occur in around 10% to 15% of women aged 65 to 70 and about 20% to 50% of women aged 80 and older. The condition is much more likely to recur during the menopause and postmenopause periods if the woman has contracted a urinary infection such as cystitis or kidney complications in the premenopause period. There may be a lot of things at stake here, such as hormones, physiological changes, and symptoms of other age-related diseases.