Women and UTIs

• Women are more likely to contract a urinary tract infection than men are. This is because a woman's urethra is exposed to certain elements in its location in her genitalia. It is close to the anus, where bacteria from stool can be spread over to it. Bacteria also can be spread to the urethra through sexual contact. Bacteria found on the skin of a man's penis can be transferred to the woman's genitals during sex. If those bacteria work their way into the urethra, a urinary tract infection is likely.
  
  

Dysuria

• Dysuria is painful urination and often accompanies a urinary tract infection. Pain or burning when you urinate is often the first sign that you even have a urinary tract infection. This is caused by the bacteria that have entered your urethra. Once there, they attach to the urethra's lining as they grow and multiply. This irritates your urethra, and when your urine passes through, it is very painful.
  
  

Lower Body Pain

• Urinary tract infection pain is not limited to your urethra. You also can feel burning, cramping or dull aching in your lower back or pelvis. Just as painful urination is caused by the bacteria irritating your urethra, if the bacteria reaches and irritates your bladder, you will feel burning or pain in your pelvis. The lower back pain is caused by the bacteria irritating your kidneys.
  
  

Increased Urination

• A woman with a urinary tract infection may also feel an increasing urge to urinate. This is your body trying to flush the bacteria out of the urinary system. In some cases, there may be a blockage in the urinary tract causing the urinary infection, such as a kidney stone. Women with these types of infections often find it hard to urinate at all, even if they feel like their bladder is full. A pregnant woman may experience this symptom as the growing baby in the uterus pushes down on her bladder. This can trap urine in your bladder, preventing you from urinating and encouraging bacterial infections.
  
  

Unusual Urine

• As your urinary system's main byproduct, urine can be very informative in diagnosing your urinary tract infection. If your urine seems to change appearance, it can mean that your urinary system is not working properly. If you have a UTI, your urine may be more smelly or pungent than usual. It can also be darker than usual or become cloudy.