What Causes Recurring Urinary Tract Infections in Women? 

You feel that all-too-familiar twinge of discomfort when you urinate, and you moan knowing you have another urinary tract infection (UTI).

Up to 60% of women experience a UTI at least once in their lives and, for millions of women, these infections aren't one-time occurrences. In fact, between 25% and 30% of women have another UTI within 6 months of the first one, and many women experience UTIs throughout their lives.

Dr. Robert J. Cornell is a board-certified urologist who specializes in genitourinary disease in both men and women, which means he has considerable experience with recurring UTIs in women. In fact, recurring UTIs are an incredibly common women’s health issue — they outpace men by 30 to 1 — and here’s why.

Urinary anatomy

Let’s first look at why women are more prone to UTIs in the first place, whether singular or recurrent. The simple answer is anatomy: The opening of a woman’s urethra is very close to her anus, which allows for more cross contamination. This contamination comes in the form of harmful bacteria found in your intestinal tract (Escherichia coli), that can enter the urethra after being expelled from the anus.

On the contrary, the opening of the urethra for men is at the tip of the penis, so there’s more distance from the anus.

As well, a woman’s urethra is much shorter, so the bacteria need only travel a small distance to make it to the bladder, where they can create an infection.

Cross contamination from sex

Another reason why women get UTIs is through contamination during sex. Again, the openings of the reproductive and urinary systems are close together and foreign bacteria from the male can make their way up a woman's urethra, which is why we always recommend that women urinate immediately after intercourse.

Changes caused by menopause

Our bodies are full of bacteria — helpful and harmful — and creating the right balance is key. Around your genitals, you have Lactobacilli, which are beneficial bacteria that fight off Escherichia coli. When you pass through menopause, levels of Lactobacilli can fall, which leaves you far more prone to UTIs.

Another issue after menopause is bladder prolapse, which means the organ shifts downward. This can lead to issues with complete voiding your bladder. If you can’t fully empty your bladder, bacteria can linger and create recurrent UTIs.

Solutions for UTIs

If you’re experiencing recurrent UTIs, we want you to come see us for an evaluation. These infections can become dangerous if they travel up into your kidneys, so we want to stay one step ahead of them.

During this visit, we use imaging to get a closer look at your lower and upper urinary tracts, and we assess your bladder function. From there, we design a treatment plan that might include short- or long-term antibiotics to clear the bacteria, as well as a few lifestyle suggestions that can help, such as the aforementioned urinating after sex.

For expert diagnosis and care of your recurrent UTIs, we invite you to contact our office in Houston, Texas, to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cornell.