Frequent urinary tract infections cause bothersome symptoms of urgent, painful urination in affected patients. Sexually active female patients are at the highest risk of developing recurrent infections. Patients should discuss the causes of frequent urinary tract infections with a doctor to learn how to avoid developing this uncomfortable medical condition.
Birth Control and Sexual Intercourse
Women who use a diaphragm or spermicides as contraceptive methods can develop frequent urinary tract infections, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. A diaphragm is a small contraceptive device a woman inserts into her vagina. When the diaphragm is inserted, a woman can accidentally introduce bacteria into her vaginal area, leading to urinary tract infection symptoms. Spermicides can irritate a woman's sensitive vaginal tissues, making it easier for bacteria to enter and infect her vagina and urinary tract. Frequent or rough sexual intercourse can also cause recurrent urinary tract infections in certain patients. When engaging in intercourse, bacteria from the rectal area can be pulled forward towards the vagina. Men who engage in anal intercourse are also at risk of developing frequent urinary tract infections. Bacteria near the vagina or head of the penis can enter the urethra, a thin tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. These bacteria can travel up the urinary tract, causing infection.
Urinary Tract Abnormalities or Stones
Kidney or bladder stones can cause frequent urinary tract infections in affected patients, TopSurgeon explains. Stones within the urinary tract can interfere with the normal flow of urine out of the body. When urine remains stagnate within the urinary tract, it is more susceptible to infection. As kidney or bladder stones migrate out of the body, they can damage or injure the urinary tract, increasing the risk of infection. Structural abnormalities along the urinary tract, such as a narrowed urethra, can also contribute to frequent urinary tract infections in affected patients. Any urinary tract abnormality that interferes with or limits urine flow out of the body elevates a patient's risk of urinary tract infection.
Improper Hygiene
Patients who do not practice proper genital hygiene are more likely to develop frequent urinary tract infections. Any time a patient's genital region is exposed to bacteria, he can develop a urinary tract infection. Poor or infrequent genital cleansing, exposure to contaminated water or improper wiping habits can lead to bacterial infections. Women can help limit their risk of recurrent urinary tract infections by wiping from front to back after having a bowel movement, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Bacterial Prostatitis
Bacterial prostatitis, a bacterial infection of the prostate gland, is the primary cause of frequent urinary tract infection in men, The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library reports. The prostate gland is a small organ located immediately beneath a man's bladder. A bacterial infection of the prostate can irritate the bladder, increasing the risk of infection. Bacteria within the prostate gland can also enter a man's urinary tract, leading to frequent urinary tract infections.
Decreased Estrogen
Women who have gone through menopause experience a significant decrease in the amount of estrogen produced by their bodies. Decreased estrogen levels can alter the way in which a woman's immune system functions, making it harder for her body to fight off pathogenic invaders. The walls of a woman's urinary tract can also become thinner due to low estrogen levels, increasing her susceptibility to urinary tract infections, according to the UMMC.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Urinary Tract Infection - Risk Factors
- TopSurgeons: Recurrent Bladder Infections
- KidsHealth: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Related Causes
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Bladder Infection (Cystitis)
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Urinary Tract Infections in Adults
