Most UTIs are experienced by women. In fact, one out of every five adult women has had a UTI, which puts them at a higher risk for a repeat infection. Many doctors believe women contract more UTIs than men because a woman's urethra (about three inches) is only about half as long as a man's (about six inches). Because the length of the urethra is shorter, infection causing bacteria has easier access to the rest of the urinary tract.
Others at risk for UTIs include those with a blockage in the urinary tract or those with a suppressed immune system. Obstructions can be caused by a kidney stone, an enlarged prostate (for men only), or through the usage of a catheter or other tubes to help expel urine from the body. Because these tubes generally stay in place for a long time they can cause bacterial growth, especially in the elderly or chronically ill patients.
