UTIs are not contagious nor sexually transmitted – that is you cannot catch them from another person – but some women do get them frequently and they can occur after sexual activity, when bacteria in the vaginal area get pushed near or into the urethra.
A urinary tract infection is not a sexually transmitted infection. It is not considered a contagious condition. However, vaginal sex, anal sex, and oral sex can all pass bacteria between sexual partners. That's why doctors usually recommend avoiding sex with a UTI.
Can men get UTIs from women? Men can get UTIs from women during sex, by getting the bacteria from a woman with the infection. However, this is unlikely. Typically, the infection arises from bacteria that are already present in the man's body.
Anatomy and/or genetics
Women are more prone to UTIs mostly because of their anatomy. A woman's urethra is shorter than a man's. Plus it is located near the openings of the vagina and anus, meaning there's more opportunity for bacteria from both those areas to spread—or be wiped—into the urethra.
Girls can have vaginal infections for all sorts of reasons that have nothing to do with sexual contact — such as stress, for example. Even if you're not having intercourse, fingering and oral sex can lead to infection. Ask your boyfriend to wash his hands before touching your genitals.
Treatment for UTIs
Your symptoms will normally pass within 3 to 5 days of starting treatment. Make sure you complete the whole course of antibiotics that you've been prescribed, even if you're feeling better. Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol can help with any pain.
Most of the time, UTIs go away pretty quickly—usually, symptoms stop within a couple of days, and the bacteria completely clear out after you've taken antibiotics for three to seven days, per AUA. However, there are some things you can do to help speed up the healing process.
Urologist Mark Perlmutter, M.D., says a UTI can go away on its own, but not every type of UTI and not every time. “Yes, a UTI could go away on its own, but some infections are different than others,” he says. “And if left untreated, it may linger longer.”
Best UTI Sleeping Position? The most comfortable sleeping position for anybody struggling with a UTI would be any that put the least pressure on your pelvic muscles, such as the foetal position, or if you prefer sleeping on your back, spreading your legs apart.
Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs. The female anatomy contributes to women's increased likelihood of contracting a UTI.
Bladder infections are a type of UTI, but not all urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A UTI is defined as an infection in one or more places in the urinary tract—the ureters, kidneys, urethra, and/or bladder. A bladder infection is a UTI that's only located in the bladder.
Burning or pain when urinating is the most common symptom. You may even feel a strong urge or need to urinate but only get a few drops. This is because the bladder is so irritated that it makes you feel like you have to urinate, even when you don't have much urine in your bladder.
There are several early UTI warning signs that are quite easy to recognize. The most common UTI ailment is a feeling of a burning sensation when you start to urinate. Another common UTI symptom is having the urge to urinate more frequently, but only passing a small amount of urine at a time.
Don't skirt around the details. Tell your partner exactly what a UTI is, why it can occur, and how it feels to have one. Explain to your partner that UTIs are extremely common. Getting a urinary tract infection does not make you unhealthy, unsanitary, or incapable of taking care of yourself.
An upper UTI may additionally cause a fever, shaking and chills, pain in your loin (the area over your kidney), and feeling sick or generally unwell. I think I might have a UTI – how is it diagnosed? If you suspect that you have a UTI, speak to your doctor immediately.
Will a male UTI clear up on its own? No, a UTI will generally not clear up on its own. Some remedies may help mitigate your symptoms and reintroduce healthy bacteria back into your body, but in most cases, a course of antibiotics is required to clear the infection.
“Getting an UTI after sex does not mean your partner has been cheating on you,” she said. “However, some sexually transmitted infections can cause symptoms similar to UTIs. “If in doubt, see your GP or sexual health clinic for a check-up.”
The bacteria that cause a UTI live in the area around the anus, Dr. Yavagal says. Sex can shift bacteria toward the front. From there, it's just a short hop up the urethra into the bladder, where it can multiply and cause a UTI.
The fastest way to feel better is by taking an antibiotic to kill the bacteria causing your infection. If going to see a provider in-person is not an option, there are telehealth services available that allow you to set up a virtual appointment.
How Long Do UTIs Last in Men? UTIs can last up to 14 days in cisgender men, says AUA. It's less common for men to get UTIs, but when they do get this type of infection, it's considered complicated and treated on the same timeline as complicated UTIs in women.