UTI or urinary tract infection is considered the most common kind of infection that affects the urinary tract of the body. The urine or pee is the fluid that is filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys, and it contains salts and waste products. It does not normally contain bacteria, but UTI is caused by one. When bacteria enters the bladder or the kidney and multiply in the urine, the result is urinary tract infection.

What are the types of UTI?

There are mainly three types of urinary tract infection, and they are the following:

1. the UTI that affects the urethra only and causes urethritis

2. the UTI that causes bladder infection and is called cystitis

3. the UTI that affects the kidneys itself and is known as pyelonephritis

UTI occurs more commonly in women than in men because bacteria can reach the women's bladder a lot faster than in men due to their short urethra. The bacteria have a lot shorter distance to travel in order to get to the bladder. The urethra is also located near the rectum of the women and the bacteria from the rectum easily travel up to the urethra and cause the infection.

How do I know if I have UTI?

Here are the possible signs of urinary tract infection:

* There is a burning sensation when you urinate.

* There is a consistent feeling that you need to urinate more often than usual.

* You have the urge to urinate but you are not able to.

* You are leaking little urine.

* There is a cloudy, dark, smelly, and at most times bloody urine.

How can I prevent urinary tract infection?

Recurring UTI can be prevented by just following some simple guidelines and tips that are designed to decrease the chances that the bacteria will get into the bladder. Poor hygiene leads to contamination and allowing the bacteria to travel up from the urethra to the bladder to cause the infection. The 5 measures that are provided below insist on personal hygiene in order to decrease bacterial contamination in the genital area:

1. Wipe carefully the front and back area of the genitalia. Cleansing the area particularly after removing bowel is important in keeping the bacterial level down.

2. Avoid the irritation that occurs in the genitalia. Bacteria grow best at irritated areas so avoid irritation in the genital area by using mild soap only, mild shampoos, and avoiding bubble baths. Also, you have to avoid wiping the genitalia with rough tissues.

3. Empty the bladder frequently. The longer that the urine stays in the bladder, the more chance there is that the bacteria will grow so do not develop the habit of holding back your urine and take it out immediately.

4. Avoid using synthetic underwear. This can promote bacterial growth, and it is encouraged that the underwear worn should be comfortable.

5. Drink enough liquids since the bacteria are flushed out when it gets in the urinary tract through this process.