UTIs are infections of the urinary system, often caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract. More rarely, fungi may also contribute to UTIs.
UTIs are most common in the bladder, but if left untreated, they may also affect the kidneys, the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder (ureters), or the tube that drains the bladder (urethra).
Both males and females can get UTIs, though females are more likely to get one. Females have a shorter urethra than males. Plus, the urethra in females is located closer to the vagina and anus, both of which may be a source of bacteria.
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use “male and female” to refer to someone’s sex as determined by their chromosomes and “men and women” when referring to their gender (unless quoting from sources using nonspecific language). While gender is solely about how you identify yourself, independent of your physical body, you may need to consider how your personal circumstances will affect diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment. Learn more about the difference between sex and gender here.
Is it possible to get a UTI from your partner?
It’s possible to get a UTI from sexual intercourse with a partner, even if they don’t have a UTI themselves. In this case, the UTI does not actually come from them, but rather the sexual activity may promote the development of a UTI.
UTIs are not contagious per se. They are not a type of STI. This is why having sex without a barrier method with someone who has an active UTI won’t necessarily cause you to develop one yourself.
A 2015 review explains that bacteria like E. coli, Streptococcus, and Escherichia faecalis (E. faecalis) that live in and on your body can be transmitted to your urinary tract during sex. This, in turn, may cause a UTI.
Due to their anatomy, females are more likely to get a UTI during sexual activity. After sex, the number of bacteria in a female’s bladder may increase tenfold. Although rarer, it’s also possible for a male to develop a UTI from having sexual intercourse.
If bacteria enters and remains in the urethra, it may cause a UTI regardless of your sex.
Other risk factors for UTIs
The National Institue of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) lists these contributing factors for UTIs:
- using a urinary catheter
- having urinary tract blockages like kidney stones or an enlarged prostate
- living with diabetes
- having compromised immunity
- going through menopause (if you are female)
- using diaphragms or spermicide (if you are female)
- not being able to empty your bladder completely
- living with urinary tract abnormalities, like vesicoureteral reflux
- having a history of UTIs
- being pregnant
These factors may increase your chances of developing a UTI after sexual intercourse.
How to prevent UTIs after sex
According to a 2021 study, some ways to reduce your chance of developing a UTI after sexual intercourse with a partner may include:
- urinating soon after sex
- emptying your bladder completely
- wiping from front to back (if you are female)
- maintaining your personal hygiene
- increasing your fluid intake
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