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Risk Factors of Urinary Tract Infections in Adults

Some people seem to be more prone of getting an infection than others. Risk factors include:

 Gender. Women are more prone to having infections than men. A key factor may be that a woman’s urethra is short, which may allow bacteria to have a quicker access to the bladder. Also, a woman’s urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina.

 Abnormalities in the urinary tract. Any disorder or abnormality in the urinary tract that blocks the flow of urine may increase the likelihood of getting an infection. Such disorders or abnormalities may include kidney stones and having an enlarged prostate gland.

 Use of certain types of birth control. Women who use a diaphragm are more likely to develop a UTI than women who use other forms of birth control. Also, women whose partners use a condom with spermicidal foam also increase the risk.

 Diabetes and other disorders that suppress the immune system.

 Prolonged use of catheters, or tubes, placed in the urethra and bladder.

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