2. Constipation. Being backed up may increase your risk of developing a UTI, by putting pressure on the bladder. Survey results from 1,074 U.S. adults over the age of 50, published in Annals of Epidemiology, found that 32 percent of people with a UTI reported being constipated sometimes, frequently or always. Those who said they were sometimes constipated were 3.69 times more likely than those who never experienced constipation to have a UTI. Those who were often or always constipated were 5.48 times more likely, the data show.
3. Not getting enough fluids. Not properly hydrating can contribute to the development of an infection. Staying hydrated dilutes the bacteria, so going to the bathroom often gives the bacteria fewer opportunities to grow.
4. Holding it in. If you don’t urinate when your body needs to go, that can make you more likely to develop a UTI since you’re giving the bacteria more time to multiply.
5. Blockages. Elsamra says that as we age, anatomical changes can interfere with normal urine flow or cause urine to remain in the bladder longer than it should, which increases the risk of infection. For example, men with an enlarged prostate may not fully empty their bladders. Women may have a dropped bladder (the medical term is cystocele), which means it doesn’t empty as easily, causing urine to accumulate. Diabetes. People with diabetes are also at higher risk for a UTI. If you have diabetes, it can reduce your immune function to fight off the UTI.
7. Catheter use. Having one of these in place during a hospital stay or from an outpatient procedure can lead to UTIs.
8. Hormonal shifts. Changes in your hormones, whether from menopause or pregnancy, facilitate the spread of bacteria through the ureters and to the kidneys.
9. Sexual intercourse. UTIs after sex can occur because it can move bacteria around and introduce them to your urethra.
UTI treatment and prevention
Drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding holding it when you need to urinate, and going to the bathroom regularly are key to preventing UTIs, Elsamra says.
Antibiotics aren’t the only treatment for UTIs, and people shouldn’t be on them too often to avoid antibiotic resistance, Elsamra says. Cranberry supplements may help, plus there are medications like methenamine hippurate and D-mannose that can stop the bacteria from growing. Probiotics may also help counteract the buildup of bad bacteria, Elsamra adds.
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