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What Causes a Urinary Tract Infection?

As many women will know, urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Some women are lucky in that they only develop this type of infection occasionally, but for others it is a regular occurrence. These UTIs require treatments with antibiotics in order to get them cleared up, which in turn can lead to other side effects. This is why it is important to take steps that will reduce the risk of you getting the infection in the first place.

In order to do this, you need to be familiar with some of the common causes of urinary tract infections. There are a number of common causes associated with this type of infection. By taking preventative steps, you can help to minimize on the risk of contracting this type of infection.

Some of the common causes of UTIs

There are a number of factors that can lead to a urinary tract infection developing. Some of the more common causes associated with this type of infection include:

  • Certain conditions: There are certain conditions that can cause you to develop regular urinary tract infections. This includes conditions such as kidney stones, as they can block the urinary tract and this leads to the infection developing. If you develop problems such as this you need to make sure you see your doctor as early as possible, as both the condition itself and the UTI can cause a lot of pain.
  • Hormonal changes in pregnancy: When you are pregnant, your body goes through hormonal changes. These hormones can increase the likelihood of UTIs. The growth of the uterus over the course of the pregnancy can put additional pressure on the bladder, making it difficult to completely empty it. This can also lead to the development of UTIs.
  • Unhygienic adult toys: If you use adult toys, you need to ensure you use proper toy-cleaners to get rid of germs and bacteria. If you fail to do this, it can lead to the development of UTIs. Germs and bacteria can quickly build upon these toys if they are not properly cleaned, so you need to make sure you use a proper cleaner designed for use on adult toys.
  • Some medications: There are various medications that can cause UTIs as one of the side effects. While there is not much you can do about this, you can speak to your doctor about a change in medication if the UTIs are becoming too regular. Antibiotics often lead to UTIs as do a number of other medications.
  • A weak immune system: Regular UTIs can also be the result of a weak immune system, as it is unable to fight the infection properly. Some people that have conditions such as type 2 diabetes or are undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy may suffer as a result of a weakened immune system.

Making sure you try and determine the cause of your UTI problem will help to make addressing the issue far easier.