Urinary Tract Infection

“After menopause, UTIs are rarely caused by having
a new partner or more sex, or by trying new sex positions,
toys, or lubricants. There’s also no reason to blame…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Urinary Tract Infection Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cystitis
  • Pyelonephritis
  • Urethritis
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Urinary Tract Infection

What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

DotS the definition of a UTI may vary. The (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary system. The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra”.2

The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s (JH) definition is:

“A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common infection that can affect your:

  • Bladder (cystitis)
  • Urethra (urethritis)
  • Kidneys (pyelonephritis).

The most common type of UTI in women is an infection of the bladder (cystitis)”.3

Common or Not

How common are UTIs?

In Mayo Clinic Q and A: 6 UTI Myths and Facts: Answer according to the (United States) Mayo Clinic:

“UTIs are very common. One in two women will get a UTI in their lifetime. And about one in three women will have a UTI needing treatment before they are 24 years of age”.4

Signs and Symptoms

What are signs and symptoms of a UTI?

In Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“UTI’s don’t always cause symptoms. When they do, they may include:

  • A strong urge to urinate that doesn’t go away
  • A burning feeling when urinating
  • Urinating often, and passing small amounts of urine
  • Urine that looks cloudy
  • Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — signs of blood in the urine
  • Strong-smelling urine
  • Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone

In older adults, UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions”.5

In Urinary Tract Infections: What Are the Symptoms of A UTI? the Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov note:

“If you have a UTI, you may have some or all of these symptoms:

  • Pain or burning when urinating
  • An urge to urinate often, but not much comes out when you go
  • Pressure in your lower abdomen
  • Urine that smells bad or looks milky or cloudy
  • Blood in the urine. This is more common in younger women. If you see blood in your urine, tell a doctor or nurse right away
  • Feeling tired, shaky, confused, or weak. This is more common in older women
  • Having a fever, which may mean the infection has reached your kidneys”.6

Cystitis

What is cystitis?

DotS the definition of cystitis may vary. The (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“Cystitis is a urinary tract infection (UTI) that affects the bladder. It’s common, particularly in women. It often gets better by itself, but may sometimes be treated with antibiotics”.7

Cystitis Symptoms

What are the main symptoms of cystitis?

In Cystitis: Check If It’s Cystitis the NHS elaborate on:

“Symptoms of cystitis include:

  • Pain, burning or stinging when you pee
  • Needing to pee more often and urgently than usual
  • Pee that’s dark, cloudy or strong smelling
  • Pain low down in your tummy”.8

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and UTIs?

In UTIs After Menopause: Why They’re Common and What to Do About Them – Blame Your Hormones, Not Yourself the author explains:

“After menopause, UTIs are rarely caused by having a new partner or more sex, or by trying new sex positions, toys, or lubricants. There’s also no reason to blame being overweight, not urinating right after sex, or taking baths instead of showers.

There’s no solid research showing any of these things raise the risk for UTIs after menopause. Instead, UTIs are usually caused by the drop in the hormone estrogen that happens after menopause. (The same drop in estrogen happens if you have your ovaries removed or certain cancer treatments)”.9

Treatment

After menopause, how may UTIs be treated?

In Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Preventing UTIs the JH include:

“After menopause, you can try vaginal oestrogen cream, pessaries or tablets to improve vaginal flora and restore PH levels, which may help to prevent UTIs.

Note that you should not use douches or vaginal deodorants, as they can cause irritation and an unhealthy bacterial imbalance in your vagina.

Your doctor may recommend other treatments, such as long-term antibiotics”.10

Prevention

What steps can women take to help prevent a UTI?

In Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Preventing UTIs the (Scottish) NHS Inform explain:

“There are some things you can do to try to prevent UTIs.

Do

  • Go to the toilet as soon as you need to pee
  • Always empty your bladder fully
  • Stay well hydrated
  • Wipe your bottom from front to back when you go to the toilet
  • Pee as soon as possible after having sex
  • Have a shower rather than a bath
  • Wear underwear made from cotton, rather than synthetic material such as nylon
  • Avoid tight jeans and trousers”.11

Cranberry Juice

Do  cranberry juice and cranberry pills reduce the risk of getting a UTI?

In FAQs: Urinary Tract Infection (UTIs): Treatment and Prevention – Should I Drink Cranberry Juice To Stop A UTI?, last updated January 2024, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists note:

“Unsweetened cranberry juice and cranberry pills may decrease the risk of getting a UTI. The exact amount of juice or pills needed and how long you need to take them to prevent infection are being studied”.12

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have a UTI?

In Urinary Tract Infections: A Note From Cleveland Clinic the (United States) Cleveland Clinic explain:

“You may feel embarrassed if you have symptoms that affect your genitals or cause incontinence, but it’s OK — you haven’t done anything wrong. UTIs are common, especially if you have a vagina. A healthcare provider can prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection, and your symptoms should go away in a few days. Follow your provider’s instructions and take your full course of antibiotics to ensure the UTI goes away”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Urinary Tract Infection?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Cichowski, S. B. UTIs After Menopause: Why They’re Common and What to Do About Them – Blame Your Hormones, Not Yourself. Published: November 2023 https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/utis-after-menopause-why-theyre-common-and-what-to-do-about-them Accessed: 04 March 2025
  2. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Symptoms & Causes — Overview. 14 September 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447 Accessed: 04 March 2025
  3. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): What Is A UTI? Last Updated: 05 December 2024 | Last Reviewed: 17 January 2024. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder/urinary-tract-infections-utis Accessed: 04 March 2025
  4. Mayo Clinic Q and A: 6 UTI Myths and Facts: Answer. 06 February 2023. Mayo Clinic https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-6-uti-myths-and-facts/ Accessed: 04 March 2025
  5. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Symptoms & Causes — Overview. 14 September 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447 Accessed: 04 March 2025
  6. Urinary Tract Infections: What Are the Symptoms of A UTI? Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/urinary-tract-infections Accessed: 04 March 2025
  7. Cystitis. Page Last Reviewed: 11 February 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cystitis/ Accessed: 04 March 2025
  8. Cystitis: Check If It’s Cystitis. Page Last Reviewed: 11 February 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cystitis/ Accessed: 04 March 2025
  9. Cichowski, S. B. UTIs After Menopause: Why They’re Common and What to Do About Them – Blame Your Hormones, Not Yourself. Published: November 2023 https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/utis-after-menopause-why-theyre-common-and-what-to-do-about-them Accessed: 04 March 2025
  10. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Preventing UTIs. Last Updated: 05 December 2024 | Last Reviewed: 17 January 2024. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder/urinary-tract-infections-utis Accessed: 04 March 2025
  11. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Preventing UTIs. Last Updated: 13 February 2023. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/kidneys-bladder-and-prostate/urinary-tract-infection-uti Accessed: 04 March 2025
  12. FAQs: Urinary Tract Infection (UTIs): Treatment and Prevention – Should I Drink Cranberry Juice To Stop A UTI? Last Updated January 2024. Last Reviewed: November 2023. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/urinary-tract-infections Accessed: 04 March 2025
  13. Urinary Tract Infections: A Note From Cleveland Clinic. Last Reviewed: 06 April 2023. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9135-urinary-tract-infections Accessed: 04 March 2025
Topic Last Updated: 03 June 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 04 March 2025

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