For over a decade, I’ve worked with patients who suffer from chronic bladder symptoms – the majority of whom are women. Compared to men, women are significantly more likely to experience urinary tract infections. In fact, women are estimated to be 30 times more likely to develop a UTI than men.

If more women understood some of the reasons that make them more prone to developing UTIs than men, they would also have better insight into the root causes that will help them overcome them. Let’s look at some of the reasons women are more at risk for developing UTIs than men:

• Anatomy. Women have a shorter urethra than men, which means that bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to reach the bladder. This shorter urethra makes it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract and cause infections.
• Hormonal Changes. Between menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, it’s common for women to experience hormonal fluctuations. These changes can affect the acidity of the vagina and urinary tract that creates an environment more conducive to bacterial growth.
• Pregnancy. Pregnancy may be magical, but anyone who has done it also knows it’s challenging. Hormonal changes, as well as physical pressure against the growing uterus, can affect bladder function and urinary flow. Pregnant people may also be more prone to urinary retention, which can increase the risk of UTIs.
• Menopause. The hormonal changes associated with menopause can lead to changes in the vaginal environment, including decreased levels of estrogen. These changes can affect the balance of bacteria in the vagina and urinary tract.

Unfortunately, as women, it’s not necessarily possible to avoid these risk factors entirely. If you are experiencing the occasional acute UTI, there are some easy and practical steps you can take to reduce your risk factor of developing another:

• Stay hydrated, which helps flush bacteria from the urinary tract.
• Pee after sex, which can flush out bacteria that may have been introduced during intercourse.
• Use gentle, fragrance-free products in the genital area to help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria.
• Choose cotton underwear to prevent moisture buildup which can create an environment for bacterial growth.

But if you’re a chronic UTI sufferer, you likely already know about these practices and you’ve been doing them, and probably a lot more, for a long time. 

When I see patients, especially women, who are struggling with chronic UTIs, that’s an indicator to me that there is something more going on. But for women, especially, navigating the health care system can be extremely challenging.

Over time I’ve noticed a pattern in what seems to be holding a lot of women back. When it comes to chronic UTI's, you really require more specialized treatment – something that can be even harder for women to access.

In my free guide, below, I dive deeper into the issues that I see time and again so you can really understand why the treatment you've received may be part of the problem of returning bladder symptoms: