Urinary tract infections are fairly common. However, once you are diagnosed with one infection, it is much more likely that you'll suffer from infections in the future. Also known as cystitis, recurrent urinary tract infections can cause painful or burning urination, urinary urgency or frequency, pain in the lower abdomen and blood in the urine. Prompt treatment is necessary in the case of recurrent urinary tract infections.
E. Coli
E. coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections. This type of bacteria is also known as Escherichia coli, and it generally travels from the anus to the urethra, causing an infection. This bacteria can travel up the urethra and into the bladder as well as through the ureters to the kidneys.
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma is another cause of urinary tract infections. This microorganism is often transmitted sexually and develops and grows in the urethra, genitals or reproductive organs. If diagnosed with this type of UTI, you and your sexual partner will need treatment to prevent recurrent infections.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is another microorganism that can infect the urinary tract, causing infection and pain. In some cases, this infection might not cause any symptoms at all. However, in most cases, painful urination and discharge are common. Treatment requires antibiotics for you and your sexual partner to kill the organisms that caused the infection. If only one partner is treated, it is highly likely that this UTI will be passed back and forth.
Birth Control
In some cases, using particular types of birth control can cause a UTI to develop over and over again. Specifically, diaphragms tend to introduce infection into your genital area. This is even more likely when used in combination with a spermicide.
Loss of Estrogen
As you get older, your body stops producing as much estrogen. When the amount of estrogen in your body decreases, the tissues of the vagina and surrounding areas may become thinner and more susceptible to damage or irritation, thus more likely to develop an infection.
Catheters
Using a catheter for a medical reason is greatly beneficial, but it can cause irritation over time. Likewise, using a catheter repeatedly can introduce infection directly into the bladder. When catheter use is continued over a long period of time, the likelihood of repeated infections is high.
