What Is a UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common infection that happens when bacteria enter your urinary system. Your urinary tract includes your kidneys, bladder, ureters (tubes connecting kidneys to bladder), and urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body). Most UTIs affect the bladder and urethra.

UTIs are very common. About 6 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men will have at least one UTI during their lifetime. Women get UTIs more often because their urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.

How Do You Get a UTI?

UTIs happen when bacteria from your skin or rectum enter your urethra and travel into your urinary tract. The most common cause is E. coli, a type of bacteria normally found in your gut.

Several things can increase your risk of getting a UTI:

• Being sexually active (sex can push bacteria toward the urethra)
• Using certain birth control methods like spermicides
• Going through menopause
• Having diabetes or kidney stones
• Using a urinary catheter

Are UTIs Contagious?

No, UTIs are not contagious. You cannot catch a UTI from another person through casual contact, sharing a toilet seat, or any other way. UTIs are also not sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

However, sexual activity can increase your risk of developing a UTI. This happens because sex can move bacteria closer to or into the urethra. The bacteria causing UTIs are already on your skin—sex just helps them reach places where they can cause infection.

Common UTI Symptoms

UTI symptoms often include a strong urge to urinate, burning or pain when you pee, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, and pelvic pressure or lower belly pain. You may also feel like you need to urinate frequently but only pass small amounts.

If the infection spreads to your kidneys, you may have fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or back pain. Seek medical care right away if you have these symptoms.

Treatment and Prevention

Doctors treat UTIs with antibiotics. Most infections clear up within a few days of starting treatment. It's important to finish all your medication, even if you feel better.

To help prevent UTIs, drink plenty of water, urinate when you feel the urge (don't hold it), and urinate after sex. Women should wipe from front to back after using the bathroom.