If you're reading this and earnestly looking for an answer, I am so sorry you have had to deal with this. UTI’s are incredibly common and simultaneously incredibly awful. UTIs are the second most diagnosed infection and account for about 8 million doctor visits a year in the US. They seem to never really go away which begs the question, why do I keep getting UTIs?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects the urinary tract. This sort of illness can affect your urethra (urethritis), bladder (cystitis), ureters (Pyelonephritis), or kidneys (pyelonephritis). UTIs are caused by bacteria being where it is not supposed to be. Bacteria aren't usually found in your pee, however they can enter the urinary system from outside the body. When a UTI occurs, it begins mildly , could dissipate on its own or become rapidly intolerable. In the later case, the infection can spread all the way to the kidneys and in extreme cases lead to death if left untreated.
Anyone can get a UTI, but they are far more common among women. It's easy to confuse UTI symptoms with those of a bacterial or yeast infection, or kidney stones, so it's crucial to pay attention to what your body is telling you.
To answer the question “why do i keep getting UTIs?”, it is helpful to understand the basic components in your urinary tract. The urinary tract is made up of 4 main parts:
Unfortunately, due to biology women are more prone to UTIs because the anus (source of tons of bacteria) is located so close to the urethra (at risk of infection by bacteria). Older persons are also more susceptible due to comorbid health issues that relate such as an enlarged prostate or bladder prolapse (sorry for the imagery, it goes with the territory.) The biggest risk factor for UTIs is a UTI. Once you've had one UTI, you're more likely to get another. The National Kidney Foundation estimates that twenty of women who have had one UTI will have another. Thirty percent of that group will have another infection, and eighty percent of the third group will get recurrences. More than two UTIs in six months or more than three in a year are considered recurrent UTIs.
Other risk factors include:
The next step in understanding UTIs is understanding their symptoms. Probably the most immediate and noticeable symptom of a UTI is issues with peeing, and well that just makes sense. Typically if you have a UTI you will notice that you are having to pee far more frequently but only a small amount and this is accompanied by some itching, burning and/or pain. Pain and pressure in the lower abdomen, and vaginal irritation are red flag UTI symptoms.
However, when symptoms arise it is important to get a proper diagnosis before starting any course of action. Taking a medication that is incorrect for the job does far more harm than good. A vaginal bacterial infection or a yeast infection can also cause burning and irritation in the vaginal area. So seeing your doctor in order to quickly and correctly identify the issue is a great idea. If you notice blood in your urine, it could be a sign of kidney stones or a more serious bladder infection, so make an appointment with your doctor right away. Fever (typically above 99.9 degrees), chills and fatigue are also more severe symptoms of a UTI that you should be aware of.
Other possible symptoms of a UTI are:
If you have recurrent urinary tract infections, your doctor may order testing to rule out other health issues that could be contributing to your infections, such as an abnormal urinary system or diabetes. People with diabetes can also be prone to UTIs because of the excess sugar in their urine. This sugar acts as a plentiful food source to bacteria. In order to identify a urinary tract infection, your doctor will do the following two tests:
1. Urinalysis: This test looks for red blood cells, white blood cells, and germs in the urine. The presence of white and red blood cells in your urine can suggest the presence of an illness.
2. Urine culture: A urine culture is used to identify the bacteria that are present in your urine. This is crucial to deciding the correct treatment.
If you still find yourself asking why do I keep getting UTIs?? One or more of the following three tests to check for disease or injury in your urinary tract might be a route to try:
Just drink a whole bunch of unsweetened cranberry juice. This old wise tale still floats around even though there is practically no evidence to support it. Yet, flushing your system is a way that some people find success in independently relieving their UTI. That being said, tons of cranberry juice definitely won't hurt you, but it might not help either.
The go-to treatment for UTIs is antibiotics. It's critical that you take the correct drug in the correct amount that you are prescribed by your healthcare provider. If your symptoms go away and you feel better, don't stop taking the antibiotic. It is possible that the infection will return if the full course of antibiotics is not taken. If you have a history of recurrent urinary tract infections, you may be given an antibiotic prescription to take as soon as symptoms appear. Antibiotics may be prescribed for other patients to take every day, every other day, or after sexual activity to avoid infection. Some commonly used antibiotics can include:
Though antibiotics are the go-to treatment for UTIs we are still asking “Why do I keep getting UTIs??” As far as antibiotics go, they are a double edged sword. While they get rid of the infection, our body might become accustomed to them over time. Each additional infection evolves, it becomes more difficult to fight after use of medications to treat it. This is referred to as an antibiotic-resistant infection. As a result, your healthcare professional may recommend different treatments.
On the minimal end, this includes trying to homeopathically remedy the infection by drinking plenty of fluids, resting and eating well or “flushing” the system. On the extreme end, if the infection is severe enough to land you in the hospital, healthcare workers can employ intravenous antibiotics to quickly end the infection.
If we can skip the treatment step altogether that would be ideal. Usually with a few simple lifestyle changes this is totally possible.
Women, in particular, need to be aware of this. Because women's urethras are shorter than men's, E. coli germs can travel from the rectum back into the body more easily.
It is recommended that you wipe from front to back after a bowel movement to avoid this. Additionally wearing cotton underwear or breathable fabric is ideal as it does not as easily retain moisture where bacteria can thrive. During their menstrual cycle, women should also be extra cautious to maintain cleanliness in order to avoid infections. UTIs can be avoided by changing pads and tampons often and without using feminine deodorants. When showering unscented soap or a ph formula vaginal soap is ideal. This article also gives even more tips to keep your vagina happy.
I really hope you never need to ask the question “why do i keep getting UTIs?” after reading this article. As a woman who learned next to nothing about vaginal health until way later than should be acceptable, I am honored to be able to share this knowledge with you. It is important that all issues, especially those related to feminine health (though 2% of cases are men) are treated with care and no judgement. The stigma towards talking about issues like these only results in suffering and shame where none should exist. Best of luck, and if you want to share this with someone who might need it!
Written by Kiana St. Onge
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