4 Causes of Urinary Tract Infections in Women

Urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that attacks the urinary tract in the body. Urinary tract infections occur because germs enter the urinary tract and move towards the urethra. This continues to be a bacterial infection that can spread to the bladder, urethra, kidney and urethra.

Symptoms of urinary tract infections

Have you ever felt uncomfortable when urinating? That is one symptom of urinary tract infection. The following are some of the other symptoms:

• The urine will come out like blood or cloudy color.
• You will often feel like urinating.
• If you have urinated, urine that is released will not come out much, and even accompanied by pain.
• Your urine will smell bad.
• The lower abdomen around the genitals will feel cramped and uncomfortable.
• The body temperature will rise so that fever sometimes occurs.

Causes of urinary tract infections

1. Escherichia coli bacteria

The most common cause of urinary tract infections is the bacterium Escherichia Coli, or commonly referred to as E. coli bacteria. Preventive steps that can be taken is one of them is to maintain cleanliness in the female area and reduce the use of panty liners. Women also should cut from front to back (from the vagina to the anus), and not vice versa. Cleansing in the direction from front to back makes you risk carrying E. coli bacteria from the anus to the vagina, causing urinary tract infections.

2. Not cleansing genitals properly

Bacteria that enter through the urethral tract can spread infection to the bladder. Usually, there is a spread of bacteria when you clean your genitals or after urinating. Sometimes bacteria still stick and multiply rapidly resulting in bladder infection.

3. Don't urinate after sexual intercourse

Sex can be one of the causes. Usually these bacteria are spread through sexual activity between men and women. The bacteria that are transferred from the intestine will pass through the urethra, and this will cause infection. Why does it often occur in women? Generally female urethral ducts are shorter than men. So it is highly recommended for women to urinate after having sexual intercourse.

4. Lack of drinking water

When the body lacks drinking, the kidneys will lose fluid. In fact, the kidneys need fluids to function better. This will make you rarely urinate and urine becomes more concentrated. Lack of fluid in the kidneys will provoke bacteria to attack, so urinary tract infections occur. Then the body really needs enough water to prevent infection in other organs.

How to prevent urinary tract infections?

• Clean sex with clean water.
• If washing the vagina (for women), do the pattern by cleaning from the front to the back (the vagina to the anus). This is done so that bacteria from the anus do not spread to the intimate organs.
• Always change underwear every day or twice a day if you feel uncomfortable.
• Don't make it a habit to hold urine.
• Drink enough mineral water, 8 glasses per day.
• Get used to urinating before and after sexual intercourse.