Both men and women can get bladder infections. But they are rare in men. The causes are also different. Here we deal with bladder infections in women, and look at what to do about frequent infections (these are called recurrent bladder infections).

Normally urine contains no bacteria. But sometimes, bacteria from around your

 

 

 

 

 

rectum
The rectum is the last six to eight inches of the large intestine, ending with the anus (where you empty your bowels).

 

 

 

 

 

rectum and

 

 

 

 

 

vagina
This is the passage from a woman's womb (uterus) to the outside of her body.

 

 

 

 

 

vagina can spread to your

 

 

 

 

 

urethra
Your urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder out of your body. In a man, the urethra runs through the inside of the penis. In a woman, the urethra is shorter, and opens onto the top of the vagina.

 

 

 

 

 

urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside). From here, the bacteria can travel up to your bladder and cause an infection.

The infection irritates the lining of your urethra and bladder, and possibly your

 

 

 

 

 

kidney
Your kidneys are organs that filter your blood to make urine. You have two of them, on either side of your abdominal cavity, toward your back.

 

 

 

 

 

kidneys. This is similar to what happens when an infection irritates the inside of your nose or throat when you have a cold. You'll probably feel a burning pain when you pass urine. You might also find that you need to urinate often or suddenly.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Sen A.
Recurrent cystitis in non-pregnant women.
July 2008. Clinical Evidence (Based on April 2007 search) Available at http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ (accessed on 27 November 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Women are more likely than men to get bladder infections. This is because their urethra is shorter and opens nearer their

 

 

 

 

 

anus
The anus, which is at the end of the rectum, is where a stool leaves your body when you go to the bathroom. Part of the anus is a muscle that helps you hold in the stool until you are on the toilet.

 

 

 

 

 

anus.

Wiping from back to front, instead of front to back, after a bowel movement increases the chances of spreading bacteria to your bladder. You're also more likely to get a bladder infection after sex.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Fihn SD, Boyko EJ, Normand EH, et al.
Association between use of spermicide-coated condoms and Escherichia coli urinary tract infection in young women.
American Journal of Epidemiology. 1996; 144: 512-520.

 

 

 

 

 

² You can try to prevent an infection by urinating after you've had sex. This might help get rid of any bacteria that might have gotten into your bladder and urethra.

Other things that increase your chances of getting a bladder infection include:

Some women get bladder infections again and again. Doctors call these recurrent bladder infections (they're also called recurrent urinary tract infections and recurrent UTIs). But doctors disagree about how frequent the bladder infections must be for them to be called recurrent. Some doctors say two infections in one year, or two infections every year for a few years.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Stamm WE, McKevitt M, Roberts PL, et al.
Natural history of recurrent urinary tract infections in women.
Review of Infectious Diseases. 1991; 13: 77-84.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴ Others say you need to have at least six infections in a year to have recurrent bladder infections.

When you get repeated infections, you could be getting a new infection, with different bacteria, each time. Or an old infection might be coming back because it hasn't cleared up completely.

Bacteria that cause bladder infections can sometimes spread to your kidneys and cause an infection there. A kidney infection is much more serious than a bladder infection and can cause permanent damage to your kidneys. Doctors call this an upper urinary tract infection, or pyelonephritis. You should see a doctor right away if you have signs of a kidney infection, such as a high temperature, pain in your side, nausea and vomiting. To read more, see our information on Kidney infections.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.