Last Updated on January 23, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta
Urinary tract infection (UTI) affects the urinary system which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. UTI mostly affects the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra. When UTI infection is limited to the bladder, the condition is painful but treatable. However, a serious and untreated UTI can spread to the kidneys to affect the urinary and endocrine systems of the body.
UTI can happen to both men and women. However, women are at greater risk than men because their urethra is shorter and closer to the vagina. Doctors often treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. But a healthy diet can reduce the severity of painful symptoms to a great extent. In this
Is urinary tract infection contagious?
Not exactly. Urinary tract infection does not spread from one person to another. The bacteria that causes UTIs can travel between people. However, the infection is not contagious.
UTIs begin when bacteria grow in the urinary tract which includes ureters, kidneys, urethra, and bladder. So, it means sharing a toilet with an infected person will not cause UTI to you. Even living and sharing lives with an infected person will not affect healthy people.
However, there is a scenario in which UTI can spread from one person to another. UTI can spread in between sexually active partners.
Can you spread UTI to your partner?
Possible. The available evidence suggests that although UTI is not a sexually transmitted disease, having sexual intercourse with an infected partner can increase the risk of UTI. The bacteria that caused UTI may pass in between sexually active partners. This can be understood better with an example. Escherichia coli is a type of bacteria that causes UTIs. During sexual intercourse, this bacteria can travel from the infected partner to the healthy partner to increase the risk of developing an infection.
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