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A bladder infection happens when germs (bacteria) grow in your bladder. This causes inflammation and irritation. You might find that it hurts when you pass urine.

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 what to do about frequent infections (these are called recurrent bladder infections).

Normally urine contains no bacteria. But sometimes bacteria from around your rectum and vagina can spread to your 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 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.¹

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

• Using a contraceptive cream (also called a vaginal spermicide)²
• Having diabetes
• Having a tube to drain urine from your bladder (this is called a catheter)
• Being elderly (you might get infections if your bladder doesn't empty completely because of medical problems or if you have a hard time getting to a bathroom)³
• Reaching menopause (your defense against infection can become weaker because of changes to the lining of your vagina and urethra)
• Being pregnant (the baby can press down on your bladder and other parts of your urinary tract, so your bladder can't empty completely and flush out any bacteria).

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.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.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.