Gut Health & Urinary Tract Infections
Not another UTI!!!
You wake out of a dead sleep with that very familiar, very unwelcome burning sensation. You race to the bathroom hoping it is not what you think it is. The intense, persistent discomfort every time you urinate confirms your fear… ANOTHER UTI!
If you suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), you are not alone! Over 100 million people worldwide seek medical intervention annually as a result of these pesky infections. For those who suffer from recurrent UTIs, it can be very debilitating and downright traumatizing. If you know, you know!
What causes a UTI?
To put it simply, bacteria from the bowel live on the skin around the perineum and anus and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. This is more common in women than in men. Strong evidence suggest that an imbalance of gut microbiota makes people, particularly women, more susceptible to this event.
Why do some people suffer from recurring UTIs, and others don’t?
While mechanisms leading to recurrence are still not entirely clear, recent history of a UTI is a recognized risk factor. Unfortunately, so is having female anatomy. A woman’s urethra is not only shorter than a man’s, allowing bacteria easier access to the bladder, but the urethral openingis also closer to sources of bacteria as mentioned above.
Other risks factors include…
wiping back to front after going to the bathroom
sexual activity
not drinking enough fluids
holding urine in bladder for long periods
incomplete emptying of urine from the bladder
diabetes
hormone changes
some forms of birth control.
However, evidence that the gut microbiome plays a role in recurrent UTIs is mounting and researchers believe that the gut almost certainly acts as a facilitator and/or agitator driving recurrent UTIs.
How is the gut microbiome involved?
UTIs are most commonly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) bacteria. Studies have shown that the majority of UTI-causing UPEC are resident in the gut at the time of UTI and are often the dominant E. coli strain. Contrary to what many people believe, most E. coli species are not harmful to humans like the UPEC species, and some even aid in digestion and protect us from other harmful microbes. However, there is more to it than some bad bugs!
Interestingly, a recent study that examined women with histories of recurrent UTIs and women without found that the difference between the women didn’t simply come down to the kind of E. coli in their intestines or even the presence of E. coli in their bladders. Both groups carried E. coli strains in their guts capable of causing UTIs, and such strains occasionally spread to their bladders. The main difference was in the composition of their gut microbiomes. Patients with recurrent UTI’s showed decreased diversity of healthy gut microbial species. These gut conditions allow more opportunities for disease-causing species to multiply and develop into an overgrowth. In other words, power by numbers! It is hypothesized that the women without recurrent UTI’s were able to clear the bacteria from their bladders before they caused disease while women with recurrent UTIs were not.
The gut microbiota easily becomes imbalanced with UTI treatments…
Ironically, antibiotic use is a significant risk factor for UTI’s due to associated lethal effects on the gut microbiota, including the beneficial bacteria that prevent the harmful bacteria from taking over. Unfortunately, antibiotics are almost always needed for treating UTIs. Avoiding treatment can put one at risk for serious complications. To make matters worse, antibiotic resistance has made UTI’s harder to treat, often necessitating the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, guaranteeing total warfare upon a larger variety of gut bacteria. The vicious cycle of UTI and antibiotics begins!
But it doesn’t stop there…
A course of broad-spectrum antibiotics can wipe out other microbiomes as well, notably the vaginal microbiome. This is an extra challenging situation for women because while the gut microbiota is the ultimate source of bacterial strains responsible for UTIs in most cases, vaginal bacteria play a critical role in defending the assault from the gut bacteria that migrate in that direction. Research provides strong evidence that Lactobacillus in the vagina may prevent colonization of potential pathogens such as E. coli making it more difficult for infecting bacteria to make it the urinary tract. Furthermore, hormones in women play a sizable role in changing the vaginal microbiome. The loss of estrogen for any reason can decrease the amounts of Lactobacillus species, which in turn results in an increase in UTI rates and the development of recurrent UTIs. Balancing the gut microbiota can have a positive effect on hormone balance.
Therefore, recognizing factors that affect both gut and vaginal microbiota is essential for understanding the pathogenesis of UTI, and developing interventions to prevent it.
So, is there hope for those who suffer from recurrent UTIs?
While more research must be done to find effective interventions for UTIs that do not involve antibiotics, several studies and trials are in the works for non-antibiotic antimicrobials, vaccines, and many other potential breakthroughs. In the meantime, you have come to the right place. If you suffer from GI issues and recurrent UTIs, addressing the root cause begins with the gut (hello GI Map testing). Diet not only shapes the gut microbiota, but the effects are known to extend to the vaginal tract making optimal gut health key in UTI prevention especially for women.
Other UTI prevention tips:
Consider avoiding UTI risk factors while repairing your gut to give your beneficial bacteria a chance to populate enough to defend against infection and prevent the need for antibiotics which in turn starts the vicious cycle again and again. Avoid using antibiotics unless absolutely necessary and be sure to take the full course as directed to lessen chances of antibiotic resistance.
As always, nurture your gut, and it will nurture you!
Ready to address the root cause of your UTI’s? Let’s talk! Schedule a free discover call HERE
