What causes UTIs?

Bacteria can enter the urethra causing a urinary tract infection several ways, and is more likely to happen if you:

• Are sexually active
• Don’t regularly empty your bladder (holding your pee)
• Have had a UTI before
• Are going through menopause
• Use spermicides or diaphragms

Although UTIs can happen to anyone, they are much more common in people with vaginas. Vaginas have a shorter urethra (the tube from the bladder to where the urine comes out of the body) than penises, which makes it easier for bacteria to get into the bladder.¹