Risk Factors for Recurrent UTIs

There are a few experiences like a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can deliver a few days of supreme discomfort as you battle painful urination and a constant urge to pee. 

For the 50 to 60% of adult women who get at least one UTI in their lifetimes, one go-around is usually enough to make them certain they don’t want a repeat performance. Unfortunately, recurring UTIs are not uncommon — up to 44% of women also have a second infection after the first. 

Given that both UTIs and recurrent UTIs are common, the team of skilled providers at North Atlanta OB/GYN put together a list of risk factors for one-time and recurrent UTIs. Our goal is to present you with this information so you can take steps to remain free and clear of infection.

The making of a urinary tract infection

Let’s kick off this discussion with a brief description of how a UTI crops up in the first place. A UTI occurs when bacteria are within your urinary tract and bladder, where they linger, creating an infection.

UTIs occur far more frequently in women than in men, and the gender disparity largely comes from anatomy. In brief, a woman’s urethra is much shorter, so it’s a quick trip for bacteria to get to the bladder. As well, the urethral opening and anus are close together, which facilitates cross-contamination.

Common culprits behind recurrent UTIs

Now let’s get into some of the reasons why women experience recurrent UTIs, which include:

Menopause

Each year, 1.3 million women in the United States begin their transition through menopause. During and after this stage, your reproductive hormones drop, and this shift can change the environment around your urethra and vagina; it weakens your defenses against invading bacteria.

Solution: Vaginal estrogen therapies can restore the right acidity in your vagina to fight off bacteria.

Having sex

When you have intercourse with someone, it can push bacteria from your anus or vagina up into your urethra.

Solution: Urinate immediately after intercourse.

Aging and a weak bladder

As you age, your bladder may not empty well which can encourage bacterial growth within the organ.

Solution: Drink more water and make sure you fully void your bladder.

Wiping back to front

If you wipe yourself from back to front, you can move bacteria from your anus to your urethra.

Solution: Always wipe front to back.

Too much antibiotic use

The challenge with UTIs is that the quickest way to clear them up is with antibiotics. Unfortunately, antibiotics eliminate bacteria indiscriminately, which means good and bad bacteria get removed. 

Solution: If you’re experiencing recurrent UTIs and taking antibiotics for each (or for another condition entirely), we can review alternatives that preserve the good bacteria to fight off infections.

There are other reasons why UTIs recur, but the above are the most common. The bottom line is that if you’re experiencing frequent UTIs — two or more in the same year — we need to investigate to determine the cause of the issue. From there, we can devise a plan for preventing these infections from disrupting your life.

For expert care of your recurrent UTIs, contact us by phone or online today to schedule an appointment at our office in Atlanta, Alpharetta, or Marietta, Georgia.