I’ve had enough UTIs in my young adult life that I should know how to describe them. But to this day, I can’t quite put into words that feeling you get. The burning, the discomfort, and the strange mix of urgency and frustration that comes with a UTI.
Okay, maybe I did just describe it. But considering how often UTIs and I were in a toxic situationship, you’d think I’d have a more poetic way of putting it.
But here is a description of a UTI that you might find on the internet:
A UTI, short for Urinary Tract Infection, is an infection in any part of your urinary system. That’s your bladder, urethra, and sometimes even your kidneys. This infection is usually caused by bacteria entering your urinary tract, leading to inflammation, pain, and a burning sensation when you pee.
In bullet point ( I’m trying here!), here are a few things you might experience when you have a UTI:
- You feel an intense need to pee. But when you try, barely anything comes out.
- It burns or stings when you urinate, and not just slightly.
- You feel a constant pressure or heaviness in your lower abdomen.
- You find yourself going to the bathroom way more often than usual.
- You sometimes feel like you didn’t empty your bladder, even right after peeing.
- The vaginal area down there just feels irritated, uncomfortable, or off.
- Or a lingering sting, even outside of bathroom visits.
Now, why are UTIs such an important topic for women? Simply because compared to men, women are much more likely to get them. Just one of those perks of womanhood nobody asked for.
Here’s why: anatomically, women have a shorter urethra, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder and cause an infection. On top of that, the female urethra sits closer to the anus, creating a shorter path for bacteria like E. coli to travel into the urinary tract. And with that, it all adds up that women get to deal more with UTIs than men do.
And to put some numbers to it: about 50%–60% of women will get a UTI at some point in their lifetime, compared to just 10% of men. In other words, that’s about 1 in 2 women. So the next time you’re having a coffee catch-up with a friend, don’t be shy to bring it up because chances are, at least one of you has been through it.
So back to me and my experience with UTIs. For me, this wasn’t a one-time thing. It felt like a recurring nightmare. In my early twenties, they showed up every few months like uninvited guests, crashing my day, messing with my mood, and sometimes even shaking my confidence. I became almost psychic with them, able to sense one brewing before the full-blown pain and urgency hit. That familiar heaviness in my lower abdomen was my warning sign, and I knew exactly what was coming.
I was young and still unable to pinpoint exactly why I was getting UTIs so often. But looking back, there were aspects of my lifestyle at the time that contributed to this recurring nightmare.
For starters, I wasn’t always great about peeing right after sex (a classic trigger for UTIs). It was never really clear in those introductory conversations to sex (not even sure I had one), that one of the cautionary measures you can do to avoid an infection is simply peeing right after sex. Bacteria can enter your urinary tract during sex, and since women have a really short urethra, it’s not a long trip for them. Peeing afterward helps flush those bacteria out before they can cause trouble. And yes, this applies whether you’re having protected or unprotected sex (hopefully you’re having protected sex!).
I also tended to hold in my pee when I was out or busy, which only gave bacteria more time to multiply ( I hope you’re getting the importance of peeing as soon as you feel the urge). Then there was the hygiene factor: wiping back to front sometimes, or using harsh soaps and scented products down there, all of which can upset the natural balance and make infections more likely.
On top of that, stress and an irregular diet probably didn’t help my immune system stay strong, making it easier for infections to take hold.
So to sum it up, these are the things that can cause a UTI:
- Not peeing after sex.
- Holding in your pee for too long.
- Upsetting your natural balance with certain hygiene habits like wiping the wrong way or using harsh soaps.
- Stress and a not-so-great diet.
- Also, not drinking enough water.
If you do notice the first signs of a UTI (burning, urgency, or lower abdominal discomfort), don’t wait it out. See a healthcare professional, get it treated early, to prevent it from getting worse. And yes, it can get worse.
How bad, you ask? Untreated UTIs can travel up your kidneys, causing kidney infections, and that may lead to permanent kidney damage. In severe cases, the infection can enter your bloodstream and cause sepsis, where your body, instead of just fighting the infection (because it has had to do this a lot of times), starts attacking your own immune system instead. Which can be fatal.
UTIs can be painful, annoying, and all too common. But, the good news is that small habits can make a big difference. So, start the conversation! Swap tips with a friend over coffee, and make sure at least one of you isn’t silently suffering. Your body and your peace of mind will thank you.
Her Health Matters 