Simple uncomplicated urinary tract infections are defined by nonpregnant women who get 3 or more urinary tract infections in a year. These infections do not require hospitalizations but nevertheless is burdensome due to its frequency.
We’ll cover 4 reasons why you might be getting recurrent urinary tract infections.
Sexual intercourse
Increased frequency of sexual intercourse was a strong risk factor for recurrent urinary tract infections. In addition, having a new sex partner during the past year increased the risk as well.
Other factors that increase rate of simple UTI’s included the use of spermicide, whether it was diaphragm or condom.
Menopause
Menopausal women go through alteration of the normal vaginal flora, specifically loss of naturally protective bacteria, which may be replaced and colonized with other harmful bacteria such as E coli.
Anatomic abnormalities
Anything that may impair the normal function or flow of urine through the urinary system may contribute to recurrent urinary tract infections.
Some of these abnormalities include obstruction, reflux, or stasis of urine flow as well as functional issues such as incontinence and overactive bladder.
Rule of thumb is that any urine that is unable to leave the bladder or other parts of the urinary tract, is at risk of getting infected.
Inherited or genetic factors
Studies have shown some women to have higher susceptibility for colonization of their local vaginal/uroepithelial microbiome with harmful bacteria. It was presumed that this may be due to an increased propensity for the uroepithelial cells to bind to the bacteria.
For this reason, associated risk factors for recurrent UTI’s included women who has had UTI’s at or before the age of 15 years old and women whose mothers had history of frequent UTI’s.
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