What is a UTI and what are the causes?
The HS defines UTIs as infections that affect your urinary tract, including your bladder, urethra or kidneys.
Symptoms of a UTI may include a burning or stinging sensation when peeing, an urgency to pee, even when there’s nothing there, peeing more frequently than usual and blood in your pee.
‘UTIs are caused by a bacterial infection in the urinary tract,’ explains accredited nutritionist
While many people do, as Liberty says, associate UTIs with sex (and not urinating after sex), there are actually many reasons why this might happen.
Common causes of UTIs
Bacteria moving from the anus to the urinary tract, which usually happens due to:
Sex
Not washing well / unsanitary conditions
Wiping from the back after going to the toilet
Being dehydrated (peeing flushes out bacteria before it causes a UTI, so if you’re not peeing much you’re at higher risk)
Antibiotic resistance (antibiotics no longer work to kill off all the infectious bacteria)
Blockage of the urinary tract (i.e. with kidney stones)
Catheters
Pregnancy
Weakened immune system
Treatments for UTIs that don't include antibiotics
If you fear you’re becoming resistant to antibiotics, there are some evidence-based natural remedies you can try, says Busby.
They include:
Probiotics
Cranberry juice or extract
Garlic extract
Sodium bicarbonate in water
Curcumin supplements
Pycnogenol (pine bark extract
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3 comments
UTIs are much more common in women than men, although men can get them. I've never had a UTI; however, I did have a bout of Kidney stones and would not wish that on anyone.
Dealing with chronic UTIs is not only inconvenient, it can also be scary and even debilitating.
Thankfully, UTIs themselves are very common and rarely a problem as long as they’re treated in hospital
However, explains dr, left untreated, they can lead to a kidney infection, which is life-threatening.