Fact Check: Can a cheating partner cause UTI?

Can sexual activity with a new partner increases the risk of developing a UTI?

Can unprotected sex increases the risk of UTIs in women?

To some extent. Sexual activity with a new partner can increase the risk of developing a UTI in women. This is because sexual activity can introduce bacteria into the urethra and cause microtears in the urethra, making it easier for bacteria to enter and cause an infection. UTI-causing bacteria are usually present in the gastrointestinal tract and can spread to the urethra from the anus or rectum, which is the most common way that UTIs occur.

Last Updated on May 18, 2023 by Neelam Singh

Quick Take

A video on social media claims that cheating partner causes UTI. We fact-checked and found the claim to be Half True. Simply experiencing an uncomplicated UTI does not imply that a partner is cheating.

The Claim

In an Instagram video, a woman recounts her friend’s experience of being diagnosed with urinary tract infections (UTIs), saying that a doctor suggested that her partner’s infidelity or a pH imbalance could be causing them. The post’s caption reads, “If he’s giving you UTIs, run for the hills.”

Fact Check

What is UTI?

UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection, which is an infection that can occur anywhere along the urinary tract, including the bladder, urethra, and kidneys. UTIs are typically caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and multiply in the urinary tract. Symptoms of UTIs include painful urination, frequent urination, and a strong, persistent urge to urinate, among others.

What causes UTI?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). It normally lives in the colon and rectum. Other types of bacteria can also cause UTIs, such as Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. UTIs can occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and multiply in the bladder, ureters, or kidneys.

Some factors that increase the risk of developing UTIs include:

Female anatomy: Women are more prone to UTIs because they have shorter urethras, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.
Sexual activity: Sexual intercourse can push the bacteria into the urinary tract to increase the risk of infection.
Certain types of birth control: Women who use diaphragms for birth control or spermicidal agents may be at a higher risk for UTIs.
Menopause: Decreased estrogen levels in postmenopausal women can cause changes in the urinary tract that make it more susceptible to infection.
Urinary tract abnormalities: Some people are born with urinary tract abnormalities that make them more prone to UTIs.
Urinary tract blockages: Blockages in the urinary tract, such as kidney stones, can cause urine to back up and increase the risk of infection.
Catheter use: People who use catheters to empty their bladder are at a higher risk of developing UTIs.

Can a cheating partner cause UTI?

Not always. Sexual intercourse can possibly increase the risk of UTIs in women. But it is not due to the transmission of a urinary pathogen from one partner to another. Contracting an uncomplicated UTI does not necessarily indicate that one’s partner is cheating. We could not find a direct link between a cheating partner and UTIs. Evidence only suggest that sexual activity can increase the risk of UTIs.

UTI pathogens can be transmitted from person to person, but this is not the most common way that UTIs are spread. The bacteria that cause UTIs are usually present in the gastrointestinal tract and can be introduced into the urethra when bacteria from the anus or rectum spread to the urethra, especially in women.

Sexual activity can also introduce bacteria into the urethra, which can cause UTIs. While UTIs can be caused by bacteria transmitted during sexual activity, they are not considered sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or contagious because they can also occur without sexual activity.

Same has been confirmed by Dr Anita Gupta, Gynecologist and Associate Director at Fortis La Femme, GK, New Delhi. She informs that ‘Sexual activity can lead to pressure over urinary bladder wall leading to its inflammation called cystitis. If it gets complicated with bacterial introduction through the urethra then it leads to full fledged UTI, needing antiobiotics for its cure.’

THIP MEDIA has also previously debunked the claim chicken cause cancer and UTIs.

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