Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are often caused by Escherichia coli, a bacterium that lives in the intestinal system. When E. coli is carried from the rectum to the vagina, it can enter the urethra and infect the bladder. Various activities or conditions can facilitate the spread of bacteria into the urinary tract, leading to an infection. Symptoms of a bladder infection, which is a common type of UTI, include a constant need to urinate, a burning sensation during urination, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine.

Women with chronic urinary tract infections may experience two or more infections within a six-month period or three or more within a year. These infections can be particularly painful and may last longer than two weeks, even with treatment. It’s crucial to distinguish UTIs from yeast infections, which are fungal and have different treatments. Over-the-counter antifungal medications are commonly used to treat yeast infections.

If frequent urination occurs more than ten times a day, it’s advised to seek medical testing to determine the cause, which could be a UTI, diabetes, an overactive bladder, or other conditions. Untreated UTIs can lead to more serious infections, including those of the kidneys.

For more detailed information, you can visit the following resources:

Harvard Health
University of Michigan Health
Go Ask Alice!
Harvard Health
University Health Center
Harvard Health
Harvard Health
Baylor Medicine
University Health Center

These resources provide comprehensive insights into the causes, symptoms, treatment, and management of UTIs and can help in distinguishing them from other conditions such as yeast infections.