Bladder infections, also known as urinary tract infections, are 10 times more common in women than in men, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Infections occur when bacteria enters the urinary tract and begins multiplying in the bladder. While approximately 50 percent of women will fall prey to at least one infection in their lifetime, as the UMM states, knowing some of the risk factors may help you prevent them.
Sexual Intercourse
Sexual activity is a common cause of bladder infections among women because intercourse can irritate the urethra–the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of the body. This irritation allows germs to travel more easily through the urethra and into the bladder.
Birth Control
Certain types of birth control, according to the Mayo Clinic, increase a woman’s chances of developing a bladder infection.
Diaphragms cause the bacteria responsible for bladder infections to multiply in the vagina because they inhibit natural vaginal bacteria that are necessary for fighting infection. Women using spermicidal agents are also at risk.
Menopause
Merck explains that once menopause occurs, estrogen production decreases, resulting in a thinning of both vaginal and vulvar tissues around the urethra. Thinning of these tissues results in less protection against bladder infections. This may lead to recurring bladder infections in some women.
Drooping Bladder
A prolapsed (drooping) bladder or uterus may result in an inability of the bladder to empty properly. This is a cause of bladder infections in women, especially those who have had many children, according to Merck.
Poor Cleansing Habits
Women are more susceptible to bladder infections than men primarily because of the location and length of their urethras. Not only do they have a shorter urethra, which makes travel time shorter for the bacteria causing the infection, but the urethra itself is in close proximity to the rectum.
When a woman has poor cleansing habits–such as wiping from back to front or washing the same way–the bacteria in the feces is brought directly to the urethra, giving it free reign to travel into the bladder where it can grow and multiply. Eventually it becomes a bladder infection.
About this Author
Based in Jamestown, Pa., Hannah Rice Myers has more than 10 years of experience as a freelance writer, specializing in the health industry. Many of her articles have appeared in newspapers, as well as “Curing Epilepsy: Hope Through Research.” Rice received her master’s degree in nursing from Upstate Medical University in 2001.
