How do you get a UTI Infection | How To Prevent

UTI often referred as short form of Urinary Tract Infection, is more common in females compared to males. Usually the bacteria named E.coli is attributed for this infection. But how does this bacteria reach the urinary tract and infects it, is a common question asked by several patients of this medical condition. Those who have faced it know how it feels during infection when you can't even urinate properly and the pain and blood in urine even makes you cry. The very first question of patients is to know how they can prevent themselves from UTI Infection in future and how do you get a UTI infection. Most of the people think that it comes through food, which is not true.

How do you get a UTI Infection ?

E.coli is the bacteria responsible for UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). This bacteria resides in our gut and helps in digestion of food. So it is not necessary for it to come from anywhere else. It can sometimes travel with digested food and may come out in stool and traces of this bacteria can travel through outer skin to the urinary tract. It starts showing symptoms when it has reached urinary bladder. Females are more prone to UTI due to shorter urethra which makes it easier for bacteria to reach urinary bladder.

How you get UTI Infection is necessary to understand because it is itself enough to tell you how you can save yourself from this medical condition. Here we are providing some tips to save yourself from a UTI infection and females need to implement those tips with more caution. Even if you have recovered from a UTI infection, you must know that this infection can reoccur if you don't take proper precautions.

How to prevent yourself from a UTI Infection ?

• Better Hygiene: It is the most important thing to take care of. Especially if you share your bathroom or toilet with other people. Proper cleaning of these places is necessary. After usage the toilet seat should be properly washed using jet, so that no traces of bacteria remains on it. Even bacteria left by someone else may infect you if you use the same unclean toilet seat. You should wipe from front to back so that you don't take bacteria from stool to urethra unintentionally. 
• Bath Properly: Proper bathing and cleaning of your genitals is necessary, so that even if bacteria is trying to travel through outer skin, then it can be washed off.
• Drink plenty of water: Drinking plenty of water is the last step to save yourself from UTI infection. If you are lucky then the bacteria might get washed away from urinary tract with urine flow.
• During Intimacy: Unhygienic ways of getting intimate can also shift the bacteria directly from intestine to opening of urethra, which can cause UTI in both males and females. To remain on safer side both partners should wash themselves before getting intimate and also urinate soon after everything is done. Urination can washout any possible transmission of bacteria.
• Clothes: Some doctors recommend to wear cotton underwears and not wearing tight clothes that can trap the bacteria near urethra. However these recommendations are not supported by any scientific studies.

If you feel symptoms of UTI then you must get medical care, as untreated UTI can affect kidneys and may cause severe sepsis and then septic shock. It can be a life threatening condition, so treatment is must for UTI.