Can Constipation Cause UTIs? The Connections Explained

Can Constipation Cause UTIs?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common, especially among women. They occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract and multiply, causing infection. The urinary tract includes the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. UTIs can affect any part of the urinary tract, but the bladder and urethra are most commonly infected.

Some of the most common UTI symptoms include:

• A frequent and urgent need to urinate, even though little comes out when you go
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Cloudy, bloody, or foul-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Low fever and chills

There are many potential causes and risk factors for developing a UTI, from wiping patterns to sexual activity. But can constipation also lead to UTIs? Let's take a closer look at the connection between constipation and urinary tract infections.

What is Constipation?

Constipation refers to infrequent, difficult, or incomplete bowel movements. Stools may be hard, dry, and lumpy or small and hard to pass. Other symptoms of constipation include:

• Straining to have a bowel movement
• Having fewer than three bowel movements per week
• Abdominal pain and bloating
• Feeling like the rectum didn't empty completely after a bowel movement

Constipation is very common and can be caused by a low fiber diet, lack of exercise, certain medications, intestinal disorders, and ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement. While temporary constipation usually isn't serious, chronic constipation can lead to complications like hemorrhoids or rectal prolapse.

Can Constipation Directly Cause a UTI?

There is no direct causative link between constipation and UTIs. In other words, constipation itself does not directly introduce bacteria into the urinary tract to cause an infection. However, constipation can indirectly increase UTI risk in some cases.

One way is by causing urinary retention. When stool builds up in the rectum and presses against the bladder, it can obstruct bladder emptying. This is called urinary retention. Retaining urine allows bacteria additional time to multiply and grow in the bladder, increasing UTI risk. Severe constipation may also physically compress the ureters, obstructing urine flow from the kidneys.

Additionally, straining to pass hard, dry stools can indirectly impact UTIs. Forceful straining can potentially introduce bacteria from the anus into the urethra. Holding in bowel movements can also weaken pelvic muscles over time, leading to bladder and bowel dysfunction.

Lastly, laxative abuse is associated with recurrent UTIs in some cases. Using too many laxatives interferes with the colon's natural ability to contract and can cause dependency. Laxative overuse can result in chronic diarrhea, which can in turn cause UTIs by irritating the genitourinary tract.

Other Connections Between Constipation and UTIs

While constipation itself does not directly cause UTIs, some other connections exist between constipation and urinary tract infections.

Medications

Some medications used to treat constipation, like anticholinergics, can increase UTI risk. Anticholinergic medications reduce muscle contractions in the digestive tract to allow stools to pass more easily. However, they can also cause urinary retention by relaxing the bladder muscle.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction involves weakening of the group of muscles that support bladder and bowel control. Constipation and straining to pass stool can worsen pelvic floor dysfunction over time. Weakened pelvic muscles make it harder to fully empty the bladder, increasing UTI risk.

Diabetes

Difficulty regulating blood sugar in diabetes can slow digestion, potentially leading to constipation. Diabetes also compromises the immune system and increases susceptibility to infection. Therefore, poorly controlled diabetes raises the risk of both constipation and recurrent UTIs.

Suppressed Immune System

Certain medical conditions like cancer and autoimmune disorders can suppress the immune system and make constipation and UTIs more likely. Chemotherapy and steroids can also weaken immunity as a side effect.

Menopause

Women going through menopause often deal with both UTIs and constipation. Declining estrogen levels cause drier mucous membranes and thinning of tissues. This disrupts the vaginal flora balance and makes women more prone to UTIs. Slowed motility through the colon can also cause constipation in menopausal women.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women have high levels of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes muscles throughout the body. This includes the bladder and digestive muscles. Relaxed bladder muscles lead to incomplete emptying, while relaxed intestinal muscles slow down transit time. Both effects raise the risk of UTIs and constipation during pregnancy.

Older Age

Aging slows down digestion and bladder emptying due to weakened muscles. Older women especially often deal with both recurrent UTIs and chronic constipation. Pelvic organ prolapse, which sometimes occurs after childbirth, also becomes more common with age and inactivity.

Can a UTI Cause Constipation?

Just as constipation does not directly cause UTIs, UTIs do not directly lead to constipation. There is no mechanism by which a UTI would directly interfere with bowel function or movement. However, the symptoms of a UTI may indirectly contribute to someone becoming constipated.

For example, the pain and burning during urination caused by a UTI may make someone unconsciously delay using the bathroom. Holding in urine and bowels for too long can lead to constipation. Additionally, some people may unintentionally reduce their fluid intake to urinate less frequently when they have a UTI. This can worsen constipation.

Sometimes antibiotics used to treat UTIs can also cause constipation as a side effect. Broad-spectrum antibiotics disrupt the natural gut microbiome balance, allowing bad bacteria like Clostridioides difficile to overgrow. This leads to antibiotic-associated diarrhea. To compensate, doctors may prescribe medications like loperamide to slow gut motility. But this can tip the scales too far in the other direction and cause constipation.

Can Recurrent UTIs Lead to Chronic Constipation?

Experiencing occasional constipation during a UTI is common. However, recurrent UTIs are unlikely to cause chronic, long-term constipation by themselves without other underlying risk factors.

Some possibilities where recurrent UTIs may contribute to chronic constipation include:

• Holding in urine long term due to chronic UTI pain
• Dehydration from avoiding fluid intake to minimize UTIs
• Repeat antibiotic use disrupting gut flora balance
• Using OTC anti-diarrheal medication with every UTI
• Progressive weakening of pelvic floor muscles

However, the above situations would require recurrent UTIs over an extended period of time. Additionally, other risk factors for constipation like diet, immobility, and medication use would likely play a role. An occasional UTI is not likely to trigger chronic constipation by itself.

Preventing Constipation and UTIs

If you are prone to both UTIs and constipation, there are steps you can take to help prevent both conditions:

• Drink plenty of fluids daily to stay hydrated
• Consume foods high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, and nuts
• Exercise regularly to stimulate the digestive tract and strengthen pelvic floor muscles
• Establish a bathroom routine and don’t delay when you feel the urge to go
• Take probiotics to support healthy gut flora
• Stay clean by wiping front-to-back, washing your genital area before sex, and avoiding douches/sprays
• Avoid excessive laxative use and treat constipation gently with lifestyle changes, fluids, and fiber
• Practice safe sexual practices and urinate after sex
• Treat underlying conditions like diabetes, weak pelvic floor, and immune disorders

Making healthy lifestyle choices and being aware of your individual UTI and constipation triggers can help minimize recurrence of both conditions. Speak with your doctor about tailoring a prevention plan to your specific needs.

When to See a Doctor

Contact your physician if you experience the following:

• Fever over 101°F along with a UTI
• Back/flank pain while having a UTI (could indicate kidney infection)
• Constipation lasting longer than 3 weeks
• Blood in the stool or black/tarry stool
• Unexplained weight loss along with constipation
• Difficulty controlling bowel function

While UTIs and constipation often go hand-in-hand, neither condition directly causes the other. However, it’s important to be aware of factors that can indirectly link constipation and UTIs. Addressing your individual risks with preventive care and healthy lifestyle choices is key to overcoming both of these common ailments.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.