In general, women are more prone to urinary tract infections than men are. This is because the urethra — the tube that runs from the bladder to the outside of the body — is much shorter in women than in men. Also, a woman’s urethra is closer to the anus, increasing the chance that bacteria from the colon can end up in the urinary tract.
This doesn’t mean a man can’t have a urinary tract infection! A urinary tract infection in a man is often a sign of an underlying problem — the infection may have migrated from the prostate gland or another part of the body. A urinary tract infection may also indicate a tumor or other kind of obstruction.
Who is at risk for a UTI?
- People with conditions that affect the nerves of the bladder — like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries.
- Elderly men
- Elderly women
- Pregnant women
- Women whose mothers had recurring UTIs
- People who have had urinary tract obstructions — like tumors, kidney stones, or an enlarged prostate
- Women who use a contraceptive diaphragm
- Women who use spermicidal agents for contraception — these can promote bacterial growth by changing the vaginal environment
- People who use a catheter
- Men who have not been circumcised
- People with HIV infection
These risk factors can also increase the chance of your bladder infection becoming something more serious! An infection in the urinary tract can progress quickly to a serious kidney infection or an infection in the bloodstream (sepsis). Sepsis can affect multiple organs throughout the body.
Pregnant women with urinary tract infections have a greater chance of delivering their babies prematurely.
Children who have chronic kidney and bladder infections may have a structural abnormality. This allows a reflux of urine from the bladder back into the kidneys, causing infection.