What causes a UTI?
A UTI is caused when ‘bad’ bacteria enter the urethra, travel up into the bladder, and can spread into the kidneys. Women have a much shorter distance between the anus and the entrance to the urethra, so bacteria are more easily transferred. More than 50% of women have at least one UTI in their lifetime.
Other causes include having sex, not emptying the bladder properly, menopause (oestrogen helps prevent bacteria clinging to the vaginal walls) and antibiotics, as continued use can make recurring UTIs (rUTI) more likely.