Every year in the United States, up to 10 million people — most of whom are women — seek medical care for a urinary tract infection (UTI). Half of all women get at least one UTI during their lifetime; of those, about one in four end up with repeat infections.
At New Beginnings OB/GYN in Shenandoah, Texas, our women’s wellness team knows how frustrating recurrent UTIs can be. However, we also know that long-lasting infection clearance is possible, starting with identifying any factors that might perpetuate the problem.
Here, Dr. Christina Parmar and Dr. Rania Ibrahim discuss the ins and outs of recurrent UTIs, including the various reasons these repeat infections affect women so often.
UTIs occur when bacteria—usually a strain of E. coli from the GI tract—get into the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body), travel to the bladder, and multiply.
Triggered by inflammation in the urinary tract, UTI symptoms are mostly related to trouble peeing but can also include pain around affected areas and flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, and fatigue. Many women experience:
Seek care for a UTI as soon as you suspect you have one. Prompt treatment can prevent the infection from moving upstream to your ureters (the tubes that connect your bladder to your kidneys) and onto your kidneys, where it can cause serious health problems.
Recurrent UTIs — persistent, chronic, or frequent UTIs — are defined as having two urinary tract infections in six months or three or more within a year.
Recurrent UTIs usually return about a month after treatment for an initial UTI. However, they may also occur several times a year after treatment in a seemingly ongoing infection cycle.
Women are more likely than men to get UTIs for one simple reason: The female urethra is shorter and closer to the anus, making it easier for E. coli bacteria to traverse both the distance from the anus to the urethra and from the urethra entrance to the bladder.
Here’s why women are also more likely to have recurrent UTIs, too:
Penetrative vaginal sex can introduce bacteria to the urethra, increasing UTI risk. Having frequent sex, new partners, and multiple partners can also make recurrent UTIs more likely. Not urinating right after intercourse is another UTI risk factor.
Two barrier birth control methods — diaphragms and spermicide (including condoms with spermicide) — can promote UTIs, especially if you’re already prone to them.
The declining estrogen levels that drive menopause also change the pH level in the vagina, making it less acidic — and less able to fight off any bacteria that may enter naturally.
At the same time, the bladder tends to weaken with age, making it harder for the organ to squeeze out all the urine when you pee. Urine that sits in your bladder creates a good environment for bacterial growth, setting the stage for a UTI.
Several other factors can contribute to recurrent UTIs. These include:
Bacteria grow well in a warm and wet environment and are more likely to multiply in your urinary tract if not routinely flushed out. If you often “hold it” when you need to pee or you don’t empty your bladder fully when you go, your UTI risk increases.
Certain medical problems can also cause urinary retention, including pelvic organ prolapse, diabetes, and neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS).
Staying hydrated keeps your bladder tissues healthy and dilutes your urine to reduce the concentration of bacteria in the bladder. When you’re chronically dehydrated, bacteria in your bladder become more concentrated — and more inflammatory.
Kidney stones and cysts in the urethra or bladder are associated with recurrent UTIs.
Conditions that prompt frequent bouts of diarrhea — like food intolerances and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — can lead to UTI problems with incomplete wiping and cleanup.
Treatments for certain cancers, including breast cancer, can thin and dry the vaginal lining, making UTIs more likely. Steroidal medications and the immunosuppressants used to treat autoimmune disorders like lupus are also linked to recurrent UTI issues.
Overcoming recurrent UTIs requires a treatment plan that’s tailored to your specific needs. In addition to providing detailed lifestyle guidelines for UTI prevention, we may recommend trying a different antibiotic, switching your contraception, taking a single antibiotic pill after sex, or, if you’re postmenopausal, using vaginal estrogen or undergoing laser therapy.
Are you ready to resolve your recurrent UTIs? We can help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at New Beginnings OB/GYN in Shenandoah, Texas, today.