UTI FAQs: Important facts on urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common problem for women, although they can occur in men as well. A UTI is an infection anywhere along the urinary tract, including the urethra, bladder or kidneys. Most UTIs are bladder infections, and they’re often easily treated, but more severe infections in the kidney can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions regarding UTIs.

Yes, a UTI can cause back pain, often on just one side. Back pain is more common when the infection is in the kidneys, a condition known as pyelonephritis. Most UTIs start in the bladder, and some then progress upward to the kidney. Kidney infections are serious and often require taking antibiotics for a longer period of time than for bladder infections.

Yes, a UTI can cause a fever. This, too, is more common when the kidneys are infected. If you have symptoms of a UTI and a high fever, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Yes, a UTI can cause nausea. This symptom is more common with a kidney infection than it is with a UTI in a lower section of the urinary tract.

Yes, a UTI can cause pain in the abdomen or belly. This is a fairly common sign of UTIs, even simple bladder infections. The lining of the bladder and urethra become irritated when infected, and this irritation can cause pain in the lower abdomen, pelvic area and lower back.

Tiredness or fatigue is not a common symptom of a UTI. If your fatigue or tiredness is significant, you should discuss the issue with your healthcare provider, as it may be a sign of another condition or illness.

Headache is not a common symptom of a UTI. If you have a severe, recurrent or long-lasting headache, you should seek medical attention.

UTIs can be painful in some cases. A UTI usually causes burning or painful urination and can cause pain in the abdomen, pelvis and back as well.

No, UTIs are not contagious. Urinary tract infections occur when germs (from stool, the vagina, the skin or other parts of the body) enter the urinary tract. You cannot give a UTI to someone else.

No, stress cannot cause a UTI. Bacteria are responsible for urinary tract infections. However, stress may play a role in bladder dysfunction, which may lead to a UTI. Risk for UTIs may increase as a result of stress-related behavioral changes, such as waiting to urinate or urinary retention.

No, amoxicillin cannot cause a UTI. UTIs are caused by bacteria, and antibiotics kill bacteria and treat UTIs.

Oral antibiotics may cause changes in the bacteria in the vagina. Changes in vaginal bacteria may increase the risk of getting frequent UTIs (also known as recurrent UTIs).

Healthcare providers typically diagnose a UTI based on your symptoms, a physical exam and an analysis of your urine. A urinalysis can be done in the office by using a urine sample to look for signs of infection, including white blood cells, red blood cells and other markers. A urine culture may be sent to the lab to identify the specific bacteria causing the UTI and to determine which antibiotics will be most effective.

If you have recurring UTIs, other tests may be done to determine the cause. Tests include imaging (with an ultrasound or other techniques) or a cystoscopy (inserting a long, thin tube with a camera attached to see inside your urethra and bladder). These tests are not used to diagnose a UTI but rather to determine if there is an underlying cause for frequent UTIs.

It's very common for women to get UTIs. In fact, women get UTIs up to 30 times more often than men do, and more than half of all women will get a UTI at some point in their lives. There are a few reasons for this:

• The urethra is shorter in women, so bacteria have less distance to travel to the bladder
• The urethral opening in women is close to the vagina and anus, two areas that have UTI-causing bacteria
• Some hormonal changes can put women at higher risk for UTIs, especially changes seen during menopause and pregnancy
• Pregnancy increases the risk of UTIs because the fetus is sitting directly on top of the urethra, which can block the drainage of urine from the bladder
• Spermicides can also increase the risk of UTIs in women, as they kill the good bacteria in the vagina that may protect against UTIs

Yes, males can get UTIs, though it is uncommon at any age. The symptoms are the same as for women, but an additional complication men face is prostatitis, an infection of the prostate gland. If you are a man and having symptoms of a UTI, contact your healthcare provider. Symptoms of a UTI include painful or burning urination, frequent urge to urinate, pain in your pelvic area or lower abdomen, urine that appears cloudy, passing frequent but small amounts of urine, or passing strong-smelling urine.

No, a man cannot get a UTI from a woman. UTIs are not contagious.

A man can get a UTI when bacteria from his skin around the urethral opening or from his anus enter the urethra and travel up to the bladder. Because the urethra is longer in men, bacteria that make it all the way to the bladder are particularly resilient, so healthcare providers often treat UTIs in men with different antibiotics than in women, and usually for longer periods of time.

It's uncommon for men under the age of 50 to get UTIs. There are several factors that increase the risk of UTIs in men:

• An enlarged prostate
• Anal intercourse
• Being uncircumcised
• Previous surgery or procedure involving the urethra, bladder, prostate or kidneys
• Not emptying the bladder completely
• Obstruction of the urinary tract (kidney stone, urethral stricture or other anatomic problem)
• Use of a catheter (a plastic tube inserted in the urethra either temporarily or more permanently to drain the bladder)

There are no guaranteed ways to prevent UTIs, but there are steps you can take to decrease your risk, including:

• Drinking a lot of water. This helps flush out the bacteria.
• Not holding your urine. Urinating frequently gives bacteria less time to grow in the bladder. Don't go longer than three or four hours without urinating.
• Urinating before and after sexual activity.
• Avoiding douches and feminine hygiene sprays.
• Wiping from front to back.
• Cleaning the anus and (for women) the outer lips of your genitals every day.
• Wearing underwear with a cotton crotch, and limiting your time wearing tight-fitting pants, as they can trap moisture
• Changing out of bathing suits and sweaty workout clothes as quickly as possible.
• Avoiding spermicides. If you get recurrent UTIs and use spermicides, talk to your healthcare provider about switching to a different contraceptive method.

UTIs are very common for women, but they can also occur in men. If you have symptoms of a UTI, do not attempt home treatment. Seek medical attention if you think you have a UTI.

Published October 2022.