| Category | Urine Infection |
A UTI develops when microbes enter the urinary tract and cause infection. Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs.
The female anatomy contributes to women's increased likelihood of contracting a UTI.1 A woman's urethra is shorter than a man's, allowing bacteria better access to the bladder. A woman's urethral opening is also close to sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina. Sexual activity can move bacteria to the urethral opening.
Having bacteria in the bladder does not always mean there is an infection. Like the bowel, the bladder has bacteria and other microorganisms that help to keep it healthy and functioning properly.
