Health Focus: Why women are more prone to urinary tract infections as compared to men

A medical doctor, Dr. Vanessa Mensah-Kabu, has disclosed that women are more prone to Urinary Tract infections (UTIs) as compared to men because of the anatomical differences between the two sexes.

Speaking on Health Focus on GhanaWeb TV, she explained that men have longer urethras as compared to women, who have shorter urethras, a situation that predisposes them to a higher risk of contracting urinary tract infections.

"Men are at less risk of getting urethra tract infections as compared to women because of the structure—the difference in the structure of both men and women. Men have longer urethras, so the women are at risk of getting urinary tract infections," she noted.

Dr. Mensah-Kabu pointed out that women tend to experience more symptoms of UTIs because their shorter urethra allows bacteria to reach the bladder quickly.

"The urethra is shorter than that of the men, so they are more at risk of contracting the bacteria as compared to the men. So, it takes a longer time for the bacteria to climb up the urethra, or urinary tract, so women tend to experience more symptoms of urinary tract infection as compared to men.

She added, "The symptoms are usually the same for both men and women. If you find yourself urinating more frequently than usual, there is a suspicion that it could be a urinary tract infection that is in the absence of drinking more water because naturally, when you drink more water, you pee more or you urinate more.

"And also painful urination. So when you experience some tingling or some pain during or after urination, it could be a sign or symptom of a urinary tract infection, and there are also some instances of pelvic pain or abdominal pain. These are some of the symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections - frequent urination, painful urination, and abdominal pain," she stated.

She encouraged the public to seek prompt medical attention once they notice anything unusual in their body and stressed the need to keep the body hydrated by drinking water frequently.

"I usually preach and make recommendations that once you suspect anything unusual in your body, it is important to visit your health care provider, run some tests, and know that this may be the reason for my symptom.

"One of the major causes of UTI is dehydration, so if you don't drink more water, you are at risk of getting UTI. So we encourage lots of hydration, drink more water frequently, and don't wait for your body to prompt you before you drink water. Once you get that prompt from your body, it means your water stores are depleting," she noted.

Additionally, she cautioned women to refrain from using all sorts of products to wash their intimate areas.

"That puts you at risk of getting urinary tract infections as well as other diseases; various washrooms and some sexual practices can also predispose you to getting urinary tract infections,"  she stated.

Watch the video below:





JKB/OGB