The definition of frequent or recurrent bladder infections is three or more bladder infections within the span of a year, The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library reports. Female patients who have already experienced one urinary tract infection are at the highest risk of developing frequent bladder infections. An affected patient should consult a physician about causes and treatment options available to combat these infections.
Urinary Tract Abnormalities
Structural abnormalities affecting the urinary tract can cause frequent bladder infections. For example, patients with vesicoureteral reflux experience the unusual backflow of urine from the bladder towards the kidneys, KidsHealth reports. Additional abnormalities include a blocked or narrowed urinary tract, which prevents urine from exiting the body normally. These unusual structural problems cause urine to accumulate within the urinary tract or bladder. Urine that remains stagnant within a patient's urinary tract is more susceptible to bacterial growth and consequent bladder infection.
Kidney or Bladder Stones
Patients suffering from kidney or bladder stones are at increased risk of developing frequent bladder infections, TopSurgeons reports. These small, solid masses can prevent urine flow through the urinary tract. Urine retained within the body can cause frequent bladder infections in affected patients. Kidney and bladder stones can also inflame and irritate the urinary tract, making it easier for bacteria to invade these tissues.
Sexual Intercourse or Certain Contraceptive Methods
Certain patients, especially women, can develop a bladder infection following sexual intercourse. Approximately 80 percent of all bladder infections diagnosed in women of reproductive age develop within 24 hours of sexual intercourse, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. During sexual intercourse, bacteria from the rectal area can come in contact with the external region of the vagina. These bacteria can migrate into the urethra, a thin tube that leads from the vagina to the bladder. Frequent or intense sexual intercourse increase a woman's risk of developing recurrent bladder infections.
Women who use spermicides or a diaphragm as methods of birth control may also develop frequent bladder infections. Each time a woman places a diaphragm within her vagina she is at risk of exposing her vaginal area to bacteria, which can result in a bladder infection. Spermicides can irritate and inflame a woman's vaginal area, making her more susceptible to infection, UMMC reports.
Poor Hygiene
Consistently poor hygiene can cause frequent bladder infection in certain patients. Genital exposure to bacteria from the rectal area or contaminated water can result in an infection. Female patients should wipe the vaginal region from front to back after having a bowel movement to limit the risk of developing a bladder infection.
Low Estrogen Levels
Levels of estrogen, a female sex hormone, diminish after a woman goes through menopause. This decrease in estrogen can alter a woman's urinary tract, increasing the risk of frequent bladder infections, UMMC warns. Women with low estrogen levels also experience immune system changes that can make it harder for the body to fight off infection.
Prostate Infection
The most common cause of frequent bladder infections in men is a bacterial prostate infection, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Bacteria within the prostate, which is located beneath the bladder, can irritate and inflame this gland. Prostate enlargement due to infection can irritate a man's bladder, leading to bladder infection symptoms. Persistent bacterial infections of the prostate can allow bacterial pathogens to travel into the bladder, causing frequent bladder infections.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Urinary Tract Infections in Adults
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Bladder Infection (Cystitis)
- Top Surgeons: Recurrent Bladder Infections
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Urinary Tract Infection---Risk Factors
- KidsHealth: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Related Conditions
