When bacteria from stool enter the urinary tract, they cause urinary tract infections (UTIs). Regularly eating an unhygienic diet increases the risk of UTI. The bacteria enter the urinary bladder through the tube called the urethra that carries pee out of the body.
In the answer below, we have explained what is the urinary bladder, how infection affects the bladder and can bladder infection cause UTI or vice versa.
What is the urinary bladder?
The urinary bladder is a muscular sac located in the pelvis and near the pubic bone. When empty, the bladder is like a pear.
Once the urine is made in the kidneys it travels to the bladder through tubes called ureters. In general, the bladder can store up to 400-600 mL of urine by stretching its layers of muscle tissue.
During urination, urine from the kidney reached the bladder through the urethra. The bladder muscles squeeze to allow urine to flow out.
The urethra is around eight inches in men and 1.5 inches in women. As the urethra is shorter and closer to the bladder, women are at a higher risk of developing UTIs.
How infection affects the bladder and cause UTI?
The infection affects the bladder causing pain or burning while urinating, frequent urination, feeling the need to urinate despite having an empty bladder, bloody urine, and cramping in the groin or lower abdomen.
Holding urine for long hours gives bacteria like e.coli a favorable environment and more time to spread quickly. This is the reason why medical professionals suggest people to not hold urine in the bladder for an extended period. Practicing such a habit increases the risk of UTI.
Can UTI cause bladder infection?
Yes. UTI can infect a healthy bladder. Once UTI has begun in the urethra, the infection can go up right to the bladder to infect the organ.
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