What Causes Bladder Infections in Women?

Urinary tract infections, including bladder infections, are common in women, and 20 percent of women who have one will have at least one more. Symptoms include a frequent and urgent need to urinate, combined with a burning feeling during urination and at other times. Often, women report that, despite the strong urge to urinate, they actually void very little. Treatment typically involves prescription antibiotics, although some people explore alternative remedies such as taking colloidal silver and other natural antibiotics.

Bacteria

• Bacteria causes most bladder infections when they get into the urethra and, from there, into the bladder. The primary type of bacterium that causes bladder infections is E. coli, which is normally present in the colon. Chlamydia and mycoplasma cause some infections. In some cases, inflammation can cause symptoms similar to those of a bladder infection, even in the absence of any actual infection; this is a condition called interstitial cystitis.

Access

• The bacteria causing the infection typically enter the urethra during sexual intercourse. Sometimes, they enter due to wiping from back to front after voiding instead of the recommended front to back. In either case, the bacteria move from the vagina or anus to the urethral opening, where they can then enter the urethra.
  Another means of entry is the use of a catheter or other medical instrument that is inserted into the urethra.
  Also, using spermicide with a diaphragm can alter the balance of bacteria, allowing harmful bacteria already in the system to proliferate and cause infection.

Insufficient Urination

• The act of urination helps to flush bacteria from the bladder and urethra. Delaying urination can promote the buildup of bacteria in the urinary tract. In addition, neglecting to fully empty the bladder can leave a small amount of urine in the bladder, in which bacteria then can grow and reproduce.

Pregnancy

• Pregnant women are prone to bladder infections. Experts estimate that from 2 to 4 percent of pregnant women will get a urinary tract infection. Both hormonal changes and the shift in the actual position of the urinary tract can contribute to the onset of infection. Pregnancy also can interfere with emptying the bladder, leading to buildup of bacteria when the urinary tract is not flushed sufficiently.

Physical Conditions

• Less commonly, women get bladder infections as a result of a stone in the urethra or bladder. These blockages prevent the flow of urine and contribute to increased bacteria and, therefore, the likelihood of infection. Infections also can result from conditions involving an abnormal connection either between the bladder and the intestine or between the bladder and the vagina.

Menopause

• The decrease in estrogen levels at menopause can cause the tissues in the urinary tract to thin. In turn, this increases the likelihood that bacteria causing bladder infections will take hold and grow in the urethra and bladder.

Countering Causes

• You can take several measures to reduce the impact of these causes. Drinking lots of water and healthful fluids throughout the day helps flush out the urinary tract, so that bacteria do not have a chance to flourish. Drinking cranberry juice is widely believed to help prevent bladder infections, possibly because it contains a substance that can reduce the ability of bacteria to attach to the bladder wall. It also acidifies urine, making the urinary tract less hospitable to bacteria. Urinating fully, including before and after sex, can help flush bacteria, as can cleaning the genital area carefully before and after sex.