How do urinary tract infections start?
Most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that have traveled to the urinary tract from the person’s own intestine or (in women) vagina. The bacteria may move to the urinary tract or be encouraged to grow there because of sexual activity, the use of a diaphragm or spermicide (for contraception), slight differences in the usual way the internal organs are shaped (anatomic abnormalities), a woman’s inborn (genetic) tendency, or having a catheter inserted to carry urine out of the body. Learn more about the primary causes of UTIs.
