Causes & Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections

The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The job of the urinary tract system is to flush out toxins and waste from the body. Sometimes, bacteria gets into the urinary tract system and causes an infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, women are at greater risk for developing urinary tract infections (or UTI) than men.

Bacteria

• Women that wipe themselves from back to front (anus to vagina) can cause bacteria from fecal matter to enter the urethra causing a UTI.

Delaying Urination

• Holding urine in the bladder causes a build-up of germs that often causes a urinary tract infection to become worse.

Kidney Stones

• Kidney stones can cause urinary tract infections because some women find it hard to completely empty the bladder when stones are present.

Change of Urine Color/Odor

• Urine that becomes milky, cloudy, or is tinged with blood are common signs of a bladder infection. Also, urine often smells strong or has an unusually bad smell.

Pain and Urgency

• Burning, pain and pressure in the lower belly are symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Women will also notice an urgency to pass urine but not much will come out when urinating.