Urinary tract infections come with a host of uncomfortable symptoms, including burning, itching, and pain in your pelvic region, symptoms that a urology specialist can help manage. If you’re struggling with a UTI or recurring UTIs, here’s what could be causing it.

Factors That Could Cause a Urinary Tract Infection

1. Diabetes

Those who have type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop a UTI than those without. For diabetic patients, the infections also tend to be worse, and they’re often resistant to antibiotics. Poor circulation of white blood cells, high glucose levels, and bladders that don’t completely empty — common complications of diabetes — contribute to this increased risk and severity.

2. Kidney Stones

Since kidney stones block the urinary tract, they increase your chances of developing a UTI. This is due to bacteria collecting in the urine that sits above the blockage, which eventually backs up into your kidneys. The bacteria have no way to leave your body, resulting in an infection.

3. Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, your uterus increases in weight and size to accommodate your baby as the pregnancy progresses. Because of its position, your uterus pushes on your bladder, which can prevent it from fully emptying. The built-up urine harbors bacteria, which then cause an infection.

4. Suppressed Immune System

When you have an immune-related disease, are already sick, or are on immunosuppressants, your immune system can’t fight off infections as well as it should. This increases your chances for developing infections, UTIs included. One study that followed patients who were on immunosuppressants found that just under 47% developed a UTI, particularly females and diabetics.

5. Poor Personal Hygiene

Lack of good personal hygiene habits contributes to the development of a UTI. As your urology specialist will tell you, wearing dirty underclothes, not wiping thoroughly or correctly in the bathroom, not washing often, and other unhygienic actions increase the number of bacteria around your genitals. This means you have a higher chance of those bacteria making their way to your urethra and causing an infection.

For compassionate urinary tract infection treatment from an experienced urology specialist, trust the team at Medical Center Urology in High Point, NC. Beyond UTIs, they treat and manage a variety of conditions, such as female urinary incontinence, kidney stones, and prostate cancer. For over 25 years, they’ve excelled at caring for patients with dignity, kindness, and discretion. Headed by the highly respected Dr. Puschinsky, they have an advanced medical facility with the latest technology and provide individualized treatment to every patient. To better serve you, they accept every type of insurance and offer payment plans. Learn about their team online, and call (336) 882-0220 to schedule an appointment.