What is the main cause of UTIs?
An infection is usually the main cause of UTIs – this can occur as bacteria from the large intestine, such as E.coli can travel, unwanted, into the urinary tract. However, some other factors are also thought to contribute to UTIs in some cases, such as blood sugar dysregulation, digestive issues or stress.
Why have I got a UTI?
Here I run through the different factors that can give rise to urinary tract infections:
1. A bacterial infection
Bacterial infections tend to be the most common cause of UTIs, although this cause is more likely in women, as bacteria can transfer more easily from the large intestine (back passage) into the urethra.
Because on the female anatomy everything is in closer proximity, then this can happen more commonly generally in women. Therefore why men tend to have less instances of cystitis or UTIs, unless it's related to another condition such as enlarged prostate.
E. coli is one of the most common types of bacteria that can reside in the large intestine. There are different types of E. coli, but generally, this bacteria can reside there without causing too much harm depending on the type of the bacteria. But, if it is to travel into the urethra, it can cause chaos in this area.
Depending on the severity of the infection, we may need antibiotics to help manage it, although, in many cases, we can manage it through diet and lifestyle tactics, as we'll go on to explore in more detail during this blog.
One remedy that can really help if it's a confirmed or likely infection caused by bacteria, is the Uva-ursi & Echinacea Complex.
This is licensed in order to help the relief of urinary symptoms caused by cystitis or UTI and can be helpful to implement quickly if an infection has taken hold.
2. Not peeing enough
Another contributing factor can be not going to the toilet enough, not peeing enough. So, dehydration and the effect this can have on your bladder could potentially be having a part to play.
See, by going to the toilet regularly, you can help to flush through the bladder and the urinary tract, and therefore, any bacteria that are residing there is likely to be flushed along. The other thing is if we're not going to the toilet so much is that the urine might be more concentrated, and a bit stagnant as well. This more concentrated urine can also risk providing a more suitable environment for the bacteria to survive. On the other hand, if your urine is quite dilute, then the conditions aren't quite so favourable for the bacteria to thrive. And this is why we continually want to encourage people to drink plenty of water.
Then, you can also consider some other helpful liquids if you're quite prone to UTIs. So, things like your cranberry juice, as cranberry contains an element called D-mannose. This helps to encourage the bacteria to stick to this element and then be flushed out rather than sticking to your urinary tract.
3. Changes in the nearby environment
We've spoken a bit about the environment of the bladder, in terms of the concentration of urine, but actually, especially in women, as I've already mentioned, changes in nearby environments, of those in close proximity to the urethra are very, very important as well.
So, for example, with links to your digestive tract. And interestingly, this is how probiotics work. So, some of the beneficial steps we can take, include a probiotic supplement containing your good bacteria, they work by actually going through the large intestine and surviving there, thriving there, and then from the large intestine, they can then travel over to the urethra, the vagina, whatever area we're trying to influence, and they would then have the positive influence there.
So, much like how the probiotics can work to our benefit, we can also have the less helpful transfers that can occur, because that area is very much in close proximity. So, this is why 'bad' bacteria can travel from the vagina or the large intestine and potentially create issues too.
Also, we have toiletries to consider as well. See, different soaps or similar products that we're using in and around these delicate areas can potentially affect the pH or the protective, beneficial bacteria that reside.
See, there's always that balance of the good versus bad bacteria.
Firstly, we have good bacteria, which help protect the integrity of your large intestine, your urethra and your vagina. So, if these good bacteria are affected by things such as strong soaps, then that's when the bad bacteria can risk slipping in.
Interestingly, I'd like to reiterate that it's not just about your urinary tract or bladder, it's about that bigger picture, the vagina, the large intestine, and what the bacteria balance is like in these areas too. So, which products you're using, both good and bad in terms of toiletries, and probiotics and things, are important.
4. Blood sugar dysregulation
I've already talked a bit about your water intake and how different fruit juices and things could potentially have an impact. So, keeping this in mind, since refined sugars can risk feeding any bad bacteria that are thriving within our system.
Now, further down the line, we also have the scenario whereby improper blood sugar regulation or insulin resistance translates into diabetes, and this could also have an even greater impact. With diabetes, this state can start to more directly affect your urine, so, there might be higher levels of sugars in your urine, and that can drive and feed these underlying bacterial infections to a greater extent.
We also have the immune system to consider. If your blood sugar regulation is off, this can affect stress hormones, such as adrenaline, and this can have an impact on your immune health as well.
To help manage this, it's really about that bigger picture; about trying to support your diet with lots of healthy proteins, healthy fats, nice fibres, so we're not getting too many refined carbohydrates in there, (or can at least balance them better!) and then nutrients such as magnesium.
Magnesium is found in fresh foods and is a particularly lovely one to supplement, as it can really support your insulin sensitivity as well.
5. Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis is a different type of cystitis, in that, usually an infection is not at the root of the cause. So, it may be the case that you have had tests run and there has been no infection found, but, of course, you understand that you are experiencing the symptoms of cystitis.
So, interstitial cystitis is a bit of a tricky one sometimes to really, really pin down the cause. And again, this can quite often be individual, so, something for you to really try and understand as an individual, what factors might be contributing.
There's usually some form of inflammation in and around the urinary tract with interstitial cystitis, but as I've said, this can perhaps translate from other areas. Constipation, for example, is very often a driving factor or an underlying cause relating to interstitial cystitis. Read more on how to manage constipation if you think this could be relevant to you!
Next, stress is an important area to consider when it comes to interstitial cystitis. Stress could be linked to your digestion, or it could be more generally be adding to that inflammatory state, plus it can heighten pain sensitivity. Again, magnesium deficiencies could potentially be part of this bigger picture too.
6. Hormones
On the topic of hormones, first of all, if you're female, I would say to consider your menstrual cycle.
If you have quite a regular monthly cycle, and you start to notice that your symptoms are cropping up at the same time each month, then that can help to confirm that it could indeed be hormones that are having an effect on your symptoms.
As our hormone levels drop nearer the end of the month, around the time of our period, this can potentially make us a bit more vulnerable and interestingly, it can flag areas of slight weakness.
So, we'd be wanting you to consider that, if you're getting the symptoms around that time, that perhaps along the rest of the month, you could be working towards supporting that area of your body. So, that would be putting practices into place such as prioritising your water intake or watching your sugars, things like that; your blood sugar regulation is often key, and just perhaps that area needs a bit of our focus?
When it comes to hormones, there are also contraceptives to consider, both hormonal and otherwise.
Remember, hormonal contraceptives are intentionally creating a hormone imbalance. So, this, for whatever reason, may not agree with your body, you might notice certain symptoms such as urinary tract symptoms crop up. So, don't shy away from chatting to your doctor if you think it could help for them to change the type or the dose.
If you're not already on hormonal contraceptives, something like our Agnus castus potentially could potentially prove helpful depending on your symptoms as a result of hormones. Barrier methods as well, there's different ones but just considering if these are having an influence can help.
Cystitis after sex can be quite a common scenario too. But tips like going to the toilet soon after and watching your toiletries and things like that can help.
7. Stress
As before, there are quite often links to stress and interstitial cystitis, plus immune function. Remember, with your immune system, we are relying on your immune systems to detect that infection and eradicate it.
So, if your immunity isn't quite strong enough, then those infections can slip through the net. And once they're quite established, then they can be trickier to manage. So, why not consider if introducing some stress management techniques might be helpful, or of course, we have herbal remedy options such as Passiflora tablets.
Again, stress is very individual but we can, often, as an individual try and determine if we're able to have any control over either the source or the management of the stress, and hopefully, potentially that could then have a beneficial effect on recurrent cystitis.
