Why Do Certain People Get UTIs More Often Than Others? | Tennessee Valley Urology Center

With a UTI comes frequent, urgent and painful urination. And for some, once they get through the unpleasant symptoms and are on the road to recovery, this painful infection seems to come back a few weeks later. What gives?

The fact of the matter is that some people are more susceptible to getting UTIs more frequently than others, and these people are usually women and older adults. Men can get frequent UTIs, too, but this is less common and usually means that something is blocking urination, such as kidney stones or an enlarged prostate.

Our Tennessee Valley Urology team provides further info on UTIs below, so read on.

Why Do Women and Older Adults Have a Higher Risk?

Women have a higher risk of getting a UTI, and it’s unfortunately due to their anatomy. A woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s, and it’s closer to the anus than a man’s urethra.

The urethra is also close to the vagina, which can collect bacteria during sex. Bacteria from both the anus and vagina have easy access to a woman’s urinary tract.

When it comes to older adults, both men and women are more likely to get UTIs as they age. Certain medical conditions, such as bladder prolapse in women and enlarged prostate in men, cause incomplete bladder emptying, and urine that stays in the bladder too long can encourage bacteria to grow and cause infections.

Why Do UTIs Keep Coming Back?

Antibiotics are typically the best form of treatment for UTIs, but sometimes these infections return fairly quickly after they start to get better. A couple of scenarios can cause this to happen.

Before menopause, the most common risk factors are sexual intercourse and use of spermicides. It’s thought that sex increases the number of bacteria in the bladder, and many experts advise women to urinate after sex to flush them out. Even after antibiotics get rid of the infection, spermicides may kill off Lactobacilli, beneficial bacteria in the vagina, making it easier for E. coli to move in and cause another infection.

After menopause, certain physical changes help set the stage for UTIs. The numbers of Lactobacilli in the vagina naturally decline. The bladder also contracts less strongly than it once did, making it more difficult to empty it completely, which increases the chances of developing another UTI after treatment.

Do you have a UTI and you aren’t sure why? Our Tennessee Valley Urology Center team can help, so don’t hesitate to reach out today!