Urinary Tract Infection in Women Birmingham
What is Urinary Tract Infection?
Your urinary system consists of kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Kidneys produce the urine which is then passed down the ureters into the bladder. The bladder stores the urine for a few hours before we empty it through the urethra which is the water pipe. UTI or urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria enters this system, either through the urethra into the bladder or via the blood directly into the kidneys.
Urinary infections are more common in women because of shorter water pipe (urethra). The incidence of UTI in women is 1:3 compared to men 1:20.
Cystitis or Bladder Infection
When bacteria enter the bladder through the water pipe they can lead to the infection and inflammation of the bladder called cystitis. These infections are caused by bacteria from the bowel usually by spreading from the skin around the back passage to the urethra and then into the bladder.