A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that can happen anywhere along the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections have different names, depending on what part of the urinary tract is infected.

• Bladder
  an infection in the bladder is also called cystitis or a bladder infection
  
  
• Kidneys
  an infection of one or both kidneys is called pyelonephritis or a kidney infection
  
  
• Ureters
  the tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder are only rarely the site of infection
  
  
• Urethra
  an infection of the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside is called urethritis

Urinary tract infections are caused by germs, usually bacteria that enter the urethra and then the bladder. This can lead to infection, most commonly in the bladder itself, which can spread to the kidneys. Most of the time, your body can get rid of these bacteria. However, certain conditions increase the risk of having UTIs.

Women tend to get them more often because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus than in men. Because of this, women are more likely to get an infection after sexual activity or when using a diaphragm for birth control. Menopause also increases the risk of a UTI.