by Sangay Glass

Created on: January 24, 2008   Last Updated: January 26, 2009

Infections of the urinary tract can be very painful, and could eventually lead to serious kidney disease. Understanding the causes of urinary tract infections will certainly decrease your risks of getting them in the future.

There are several simple ways to lower your odds for infection. A brief look at the basics of the urinary tract to see how it works will explan why it's so susceptible to infection.

The kidneys filter waste and excess water directly from the blood. At this point the urinary tract is a closed sterile system , so any infections starting in this direction can only come directly from the body's bloodstream.

Next, the filtered waste and water is sent to the bladder which expands when full and shrinks when empty. This is also supposed to be a sterile environment, but should bacteria enter the bladder, it now has an opportunity to back up into the kidneys if the bladder becomes too full or urine is sitting in the bladder growing bacteria.

Finally, the pathway out of the body is called the urethra. This thin tube carries the urine out of the body to its final resting place.

The urethra is where 90% of urinary tract infections (UTIs) begin.

Here's why starting with the most common cause:

~ Contamination Of The Urethral Opening~

Women and children are most vulnerable to contamination because their urethra is short in length, and it is close in proximity to contaminants and irritants found on underwear, diapers, and sanitary pads.

To prevent contamination of the urethral opening:

a) Always wipe from front to back with a clean tissue or baby wipe after using the bathroom.

b) Wash and rinse the tub thoroughly before bathing because bacteria and irritants can enter the urethra through the bath water.

c) Avoid irritants such as bubble baths, perfumed cleansers, powders or deodorants since irritation promotes bacterial growth in the area.

Good sanitary habits are always your number one defense against UTIs.

~ Contamination Of The Urethral Opening After Intercourse~

This is very a common complaint for women, but it is avoidable:

a) Make sure your bladder is not full before intercourse, and always urinate ( void) immediately after intercourse.

b) Use a unscented cleansing wipe form front to back directly after voiding.

c) Rough or prolonged intercourse is also a contributing factor, so talk with your partner for alternitive solutions if this is a recurrent problem.

~ Obstruction Of The Urethral Opening ~

This is the most common cause for an infection to develop in men. An enlargement

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