A urinary tract infection (UTI ), or “bladder infection” is not a sexually transmitted infection. A UTI is usually caused by bacteria from the bowels.
UTIs are common among individuals with vaginas because the opening of the urethra is very close to the vaginal and anal openings. There is a risk of bacteria from your bowels getting into your urethra by wiping from anus to vagina. Individuals with vaginas also have much shorter urethras which means it is easier for bacteria to travel into the bladder and cause an infection. The bladder is the organ that holds the urine before it comes out of the urethra (the tube that urine passes through).
The symptoms of a UTI may include:
Often a UTI can be diagnosed by symptoms alone. Your urine may be tested for the presence of bacteria as well.
If a UTI is not treated, the infection may spread to the upper urinary system i.e. bladder and kidneys, which is a more serious infection and may lead to hospitalization. If you have a high fever, lower back pain, or blood in the urine, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
A UTI is easily treated with antibiotics. It is important to finish all of your medication even if the symptoms are gone. If your symptoms do not resolve or recur, it is possible that the bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic you took. It is recommended to get re-assessed and/or re-treated.
UTIs are not sexually transmitted infections. Sexual activity can lead to a UTI but sexual partners do not need to be treated.
You may be able to prevent (but not treat) UTIs by doing the following:
The worst thing you can do is to restrict fluid intake and urination, so make sure you drink plenty of fluids and go to the bathroom as much and as often as your body needs.