Recurring Thoughts: UTI Information

“Urinary tract infections” (UTIs) may affect both genders, but they occur more commonly among women for reasons of anatomy and hormonal influences. To begin with, a woman has a shorter urethra (the tube that transports and discharges urine from the bladder to outside the body) than a man, which means that bacteria have easier access to the bladder. Beyond that, women commonly experience UTIs at two particular times in their lives—when they are younger and more sexually active and during menopause. In the latter case, decreased post-menopausal estrogen production translates to compromised tissue integrity and altered urine pH, both of which make women more prone to infections. Fortunately, there are treatments available that help reduce UTI recurrence.

P.S. While cranberry juice makes urine more acidic, thereby stunting bacteria growth, D-mannose (a glucose-related sugar) supplements help prevent certain types of bacteria from adhering to the bladder walls, which helps prevent bacteria from colonizing.