Urinary tract infection (UTI)

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes Risk factors Screening and diagnosis

Complications Treatment Prevention Self-care

Introduction

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that begins in your urinary system. UTIs limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. But serious consequences can occur if the infection spreads to your kidneys.

Women are most at risk of developing a UTI. In fact, half of all women will develop a UTI during their lifetimes, and many will experience more than one.

The urinary system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. All play a role in removing waste from your body. The kidneys, a pair of bean-shaped organs in your upper posterior abdomen, filter waste from your blood. Tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder, where it is stored until it exits the body through the urethra. All of these components can become infected, but most infections involve the lower tract — the urethra and the bladder.

Antibiotics are the typical treatment for urinary tract infections. But you can take steps to reduce your chance a getting a UTI in the first place.

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Signs and symptoms