Can UTI’s cause Incontinence? And How They are Related as Women Age
Do you have pain or burning when you pee? If so, you might have a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). This condition is quite common, about 50% of women will develop a UTI in their lifetime. It gets even more common as women get older and go through menopause. Many women end up having chronic UTIs that seem to be triggered at the smallest dietary or hormonal change.
I got my first UTI in my twenties while at a summer internship in a foreign city. I remember having to visit the bathroom frequently with a mild burning sensation. I couldn’t wait for the day to be over and go home. Whatever it was, I hoped for it to pass. But it got worse and made me scream when I had to urinate. It hurt so bad! Finally, when I could take it no longer I walked over to the emergency room, and the doctors were shocked by how much blood was in my cloudy urine. Luckily antibiotics improved my condition quickly, but I left the hospital thinking “Why didn’t I know about this, and why did it take me so long to seek medical help?”
If you’ve ever experienced a UTI, you know it’s far from pleasant. The discomfort, pain, inconvenience, and long-term effects can be anywhere from a mild disruption to your life to downright debilitating. UTIs may seem like an isolated condition but it’s not! UTIs and incontinence often go hand in hand.
What is a UTI?
A UTI is an inflammation in the bladder or urinary tract that is caused by the presence of bacteria. This can often be treated with antibiotics, but can also become serious. If a UTI spreads to the kidneys or bloodstream, it can cause sepsis. That’s why it’s important to always treat your UTIs as soon as possible.
How do UTIs start?
The urethra (the tube that passes urine outside the body) is usually a one-way tube, but UTIs can happen when the bladder to the urethra opens up. There are good bacteria that live in your vaginal flora that are protective. But when nearby bad bacteria (coliform or E. coli) enter the urethra, that often causes the UTIs.
Symptoms of UTIs include:
- Pain or burning while urinating
- Frequent urination
- Urinary urgency (the need to go now)
- Feeling the need to urinate despite having an empty bladder
- Urine that looks cloudy
- Bloody urine
- Pressure or cramping in the groin or lower abdomen.
There’s also a chance that some people don’t show any symptoms.
Factors that may increase the risk of UTIs?
- Previous UTIs
- Infrequent voiding– allows bacteria to grow for longer time in the bladder
- Incomplete voiding- excessive amount of urine left in the bladder
- Personal hygiene– improper personal care can result in contamination increasing the risk of bacteria forming
- Sexual Activity
- Use of spermicide– changes vaginal flora and can allow bacteria to form
- Genetics
- Menopause – lack of estrogen making bacteria susceptible to form
- Diabetes- persistent high blood sugar levels cause immunosuppression that increases UTI susceptibility.
- Weakened immune system
Are women more at risk of getting UTIs?
Yes! For starters, women’s urethras are much shorter than men’s. Because women’s urethras are shorter and closer to the rectum it’s easier for the bacteria to enter the urinary tract.
Not only are women anatomically more likely to get a UTI, but as they get older, they go through menopause, and that increases risk.
Following menopause, estrogen levels drop, impacting the elasticity and moisture of vaginal and urethral tissues. This hormonal decline can lead to thinning, dryness, and irritation, predisposing individuals to UTIs.
With the drop of estrogen in the vaginal flora the pH climbs (making it less acidic). This creates a breeding ground for coliform (E. coli) to get out of control. When you’re younger your pH is acidic and can control the bacteria more easily.
In addition to the pH, the urethral muscles are weakened. That tight valve (should be a one-way valve) which holds the urine in, becomes looser, making it easier for the bacteria to travel into the bladder. With the decrease of healthy bacteria (lower estrogen), the body’s natural defense against infections reduces, and voila – more UTIs.
How are UTIs and Incontinence Related?
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (RUTI) can lead to incontinence (specifically Urge Incontinence). The reason for this is that the bladder mucosa is constantly weakened which means that the bladder lining and nerves are not as strong leading to incontinence. Which then goes into this cycle of UTIs then incontinence over and over again.
Not only can UTIs lead to urge incontinence, but if a woman is post-menopausal with incontinence, they are also very likely to get UTIs because of weaker pelvic floor muscles (which include urethral muscles – that valve). The valve mechanisms become less effective. This weakening can lead to looser urethral opening and increased susceptibility to UTIs.
Research shows patients with urinary incontinence are three times more likely to have UTIs! On average they have 1.6 UTIs per year.
According to one study, patients with Urinary Incontinence are 63% more likely to slip and fall during the night time as well.
While UTIs can be dealt with OTC medications or antibiotics, it can be painful and exhausting to constantly deal with.
So, What Does This Mean?
Although women are more susceptible to getting UTIs because of pH levels, physiology, and weaker pelvic floor muscles, it doesn’t mean that the quality of life has to diminish. What can you do?
- Stay hydrated: Contrary to instinct, increasing water intake can help flush out bacteria and reduce UTI risk.
- Urinate after sex: Emptying the bladder post-sexual activity can help expel bacteria that may have entered the urethra.
- Take cranberry supplements: Cranberry supplements are believed to contain compounds that inhibit bacteria adherence to the urinary tract, potentially reducing UTI occurrences.
- Pelvic floor muscle strengthening: Strengthening exercises for the pelvic floor muscles can enhance urethral support and reduce the likelihood of urinary leakage.
- In a study involving 420 women, 82% experienced resolution of UTIs upon addressing incontinence. To aid in pelvic muscle strengthening, innovative solutions like Elitone offer a promising avenue.
Strengthen those muscles with Elitone!
To put it all together, reducing incontinence means reducing UTIs. To reduce incontinence you often need to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. However, easier said than done. A quarter of women can’t do the muscle-strengthening exercises correctly, and the rest likely not sufficiently. Without breaking the bank, getting surgery, or taking time off of work, there are now easy helpers.
Elitone is an external FDA-cleared solution that treats female urinary incontinence in 20-minute sessions 4 – 5 times a week from the comfort of your home. Elitone can reduce leaks in as few as six weeks and 95% of women improve. Using neuromuscular stimulation, Elitone targets those pelvic floor muscles helping them build strength. In addition, signals are also being sent to relax overactive bladders.
Understanding the interplay between UTIs and incontinence underscores the importance of proactive management. By addressing underlying muscle weakness and implementing preventive measures, individuals can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of UTIs, enhancing overall quality of life.
