Post Date April, 15 2023
Speaking of the most common diseases, most of us think of colds first. However, for women, colds may have to go back. According to the survey report of the World Health Organization, for adult women, the most common diseases are not colds, but urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections. Research data show that the incidence of urinary tract infection in adult women is 8-10 times higher than that in men, and the incidence of reproductive tract infection associated with it is 61%.
Seven reasons are most common
So, why are women prone to urinary tract infection, and common reasons increase their risk of disease? The National Women's Health Information Center of the United States lists seven "culprits" of urinary tract infection to female friends:
1. After releasing the hand, wipe it from the back to the front with toilet paper. Women have unique physiological characteristics. The urethral orifice is close to the anus. The length of the urethra is only 3-5 cm. It is straight and wide. The function of the urethral sphincter is weak. Therefore, bacteria can easily retrograde to the bladder along the urethral orifice. The incorrect wiping method after hand release can greatly increase the risk of urethral contamination. In addition, the female vulva sweat glands are particularly rich, which is easy to make the vulva moist for a long time, and bacteria can take advantage of the situation.
2. Have sex frequently or do not pay attention to hygiene. Female urinary tract infections caused by sexual life are more common, especially among newly married women. A survey from Taiwan shows that about one quarter of women have experienced "honeymoon cystitis".
3. Hold urine for too long. When urinating, the urine has a scouring effect on the urethra. If you do not urinate for a long time, this scouring effect will reduce, which will increase the risk of bacteria breeding in the urethra. In addition, because the female urethra is short, suffocating urine is easy to cause bacterial infection of the ascending urinary tract, and even may cause pyelonephritis in severe cases. Some research shows that the incidence of urinary tract infection is 12 times higher in patients with blocked urine flow than in normal patients.
4. Patients with diabetes. Due to endocrine disorder, the body resistance of patients with diabetes will decline, and the risk of multiple infections will increase. Among them, urinary tract infection is very common, reaching 16% - 35%. It is worth noting that diabetes patients are often accompanied by nerve damage, and their sensitivity to infection is reduced, which makes 10% - 20% of diabetes patients with urinary tract infection feel no symptoms, but only bacteriuria.
5. Urinary tract obstruction. Ureteral and renal calculi, urethral stricture, etc. can cause urine retention, which makes bacteria easy to multiply and cause infection.
6. The level of estrogen decreases, such as after menopause. The estrogen secretion function of elderly women is decreased, which leads to atrophy changes of vagina and urethra, making them more prone to urination difficulty, urgency and urinary tract infection.
7. Recently, I had urethral intubation and instrument examination. Urethral catheterization, cystoscopy and urinary tract surgery can damage the mucosa and bring pathogenic bacteria from the anterior urethra into the bladder or upper urinary tract to cause infection. According to statistics, the incidence of persistent bacteriuria after one catheterization is 1% - 2%.
(Intern editor: Cai Junyi)
