Why I keep getting UTI?

More than 50% of women get Urinary Tract Infection at least once in their life. If you get UTI more than twice within 6 months or more than 3 times within a year, it is called as recurrent UTI or chronic UTI. The repeated UTIs can disrupt woman’s day to day life.

Why some women get recurrent UTI?

About 25-30% of women get recurrent UTI. They are usually caused by E.coli which is normally present in the vagina and rectum. 

• Not drinking enough liquids– It is recommended to drink at least 1.5 litres of liquid per day.

• Sexual activity– Sex increases the risk of the UTI as intercourse forces the bacteria into the urethra from the vagina. While you can’t prevent this from happening, you can reduce the risk by urinating straight after the sex and wash the vulvovaginal area with mild soap and water.

Usage of spermicides and diaphragms increase the risk of UTI. If you get recurrent UTIs, consider using condoms and lubricants free of spermicide.

• Bathroom habits- coli is always present in the intestines. If wipe from back to front, the risk of getting E. coli from the stools to the urethra and bladder is high. Always wipe from front to back. If you need to wipe again, fold the toilet paper over, or use fresh paper for the second pass.

• Anatomy –Women are prone to UTI more than men due to the short urethra. Moreover, it is located near the openings of the vagina and anus, meaning there’s more opportunity for bacteria from both those areas to spread—or be wiped—into the urethra. Once bacteria are in the urethra, it only has a short distance to travel to the bladder and cause an infection. 

• Post-menopausal women- Are at higher risk due to lack of oestrogen and pH changes.

• Women with bladder prolapse –are likely to get UTI again as they void incompletely. 

Why do UTIs return despite treatment? 

• There are few antibiotics commonly used to treat UTI. The GP or specialist treat you with one antibiotic but the culture states different sensitivity. Then the doctor will change the antibiotic. Hence this may take time for you to respond, and recurrent UTI may occur.

• Incomplete course of antibiotics also cause repeat infection as the bacteria is not cleared. Some women stop taking the antibiotic contrary to the doctor’s instructions as they feel better after a couple of doses. If they get infection again, they may not respond to the same antibiotic. 

When Should I see the Specialist? 

If infections persist or keep coming back again and again, here at Rockingham Women’s Health Centre, we are happy to help you. We will assess you and perform some tests to check the reasons for recurrent UTIs. We can walk through treatment options to help resolve the issues and help your mind at ease.

Please contact Rockingham Women’s Health Centre on 0895918943 to book an appointment or www.rockinghamwomenshealth.com.au