June 30, 2022

Endometriosis and UTIs: The Bottom Line + Tips for Reducing Your Risk of Getting a Urinary Tract Infection

If you have endometriosis, you know it can cause a host of problems, including:

  • Painful periods
  • Painful intercourse
  • Pain with bowel movements or urination
  • Excessive bleeding through heavy periods or intermenstrual bleeding
  • Infertility
  • And more

But can endometriosis cause a UTI? And, if so, is this a common occurrence?

Keep reading to discover the link between endometriosis and UTIs, plus tips on how you can minimize the risk of urinary tract infections.

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Table of Contents

Can Endometriosis Cause a UTI?

Endometriosis can grow anywhere in a woman’s body — including the bladder. When this happens, women may become predisposed to UTIs because the bladder lining and ureter become roughened by the endometrial tissue, making it more attractive to bacteria that cause infection.

This only happens in about one to six percent of endometriosis cases — but if you’re part of that small group, you know how painful it can be.

Are UTIs Common With Endometriosis?

Although UTIs and endometriosis don’t usually go hand-in-hand, occasionally they may be linked. Even though endometriosis is rarely the cause of recurring urinary tract infections, it’s something to look into when antibiotics don’t get rid of the problem.

Since UTIs are so common, and endometriosis of the bladder is rare, you shouldn’t assume you have one just because you have the other. But if your urinary tract infections are resistant to antibiotics or your symptoms return quickly after you’ve finished your medication, you may have endometriosis in your urinary tract.

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Information About Urinary Tract Endometriosis

Women who have endometriosis of the urinary tract present with the disease in the following ways:

  • 85% in the bladder
  • 10% in the ureter
  • 4% in the kidney; and
  • 2% in the urethra

There is evidence to suggest that bladder endometriosis may be more common in women who have had a Cesarean section.

Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Endometriosis

Urinary tract endometriosis can be difficult to diagnose and requires a thorough physical exam and medical history. Unless doctors have a history of seeing it or have a high index of suspicion about the condition, they often miss it.

Methods of diagnosing endometriosis of the urinary tract include:

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Endometriosis

Women who have urinary tract endometriosis may present few or no symptoms. But having the disease in this area may lead to:

  • An urgent and frequent need to urinate
  • Pain when urinating
  • Blood in the urine while menstruating
  • Back and abdominal pain; and even
  • Infertility

Treatment of Urinary Tract Endometriosis

You have several options when it comes to treating endometriosis of the urinary tract.

1. The natural approach — This includes:
  • Eating anti-inflammatory foods
  • Using a healing personal moisturizer
  • Taking approved herbs and supplements; and
  • Managing anxiety and stress
2. The medical approach — This includes:
3. The surgical approach — This may include:
  • Dissection of the bladder
  • Shaving off lesions
  • Full-thickness removal of lesions
utis common with endometriosis

Suffering From Endometriosis? Here Are 8 Tips to Minimize Your Risk of UTIs

If you have endometriosis, it can cause enough pain in your life. You don’t want to add the discomfort of a urinary tract infection on top of that. 

Here are some smart practices you can implement to avoid getting UTIs.

#1: Pee Before and After Sex

Since bacteria can easily be pushed into the urethra during sexual activity, it’s a good idea to use the bathroom just before and just after sex.

This will flush away any bacteria in the area, decreasing the risk of contracting a UTI.

And while you’re at it, give your genital area a delicate wash after you pee to get rid of even more UTI-causing bacteria.

#2: Drink Plenty of Water

Staying hydrated throughout the day will make you have to use the bathroom more frequently, which continuously flushes bacteria out of your urinary tract.

Water is the best drink for hydration, and you should shoot for an intake of six to eight glasses of it per day. If you find yourself having trouble drinking that much plain water, you could also try:

  • Decaffeinated herbal tea
  • Sparkling water
  • Milk; or
  • Smoothies made with fruits and veggies

If you tend to have bladder issues or UTIs, it’s best to avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks as much as possible. That’s because these irritate the bladder.

#3: Consider Probiotics

You may already know that probiotics are supplements or foods that have live microorganisms and can increase good gut bacteria.

But did you also know there is evidence that probiotics can help promote the growth of good bacteria along the urinary tract? The presence of these good bacteria may decrease your chances of getting a UTI.

You can increase your use of probiotics to improve the health of your urinary tract by:

  • Eating fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, or tempeh
  • Taking probiotic supplements; and 
  • Using probiotic suppositories

#4: Don’t Hold Your Pee

We get it — sometimes you’re busy and it’s hard to find the time to take a bathroom break. But holding in your urine is not a good idea, as it can encourage the growth of harmful bacteria in the bladder.

You should be going to the bathroom every three to four hours — or more if you’re staying well-hydrated. And make sure you completely empty your bladder every time you pee.

This is even more important if you’re pregnant because that already puts you at extra risk for urinary tract infections. So even though that baby pressing on your bladder makes it feel like you’re always running to the bathroom, resist the urge to hold it.

#5: Wipe From Front to Back

We’re hoping your mom taught you all about wiping correctly back in your potty training days.

But just in case you missed that lesson: don’t ever wipe back to front.

Why is this so important? Because the rectum is a main source of the bacteria E. coli, and wiping front to back decreases the chances of it migrating from the anus to the urethra, where it can cause nasty UTIs.

This is even more important if you have diarrhea, as that can spread E. coli around even more.

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#6: Evaluate Your Birth Control Methods

Some methods of birth control, such as …

  • Diaphragms
  • Spermicides
  • Spermicidal condoms; and
  • Non-lubricated condoms

… may promote excess growth of harmful bacteria.

If you use these types of birth control and suspect that they may be causing UTIs, talk to your doctor about possible alternate methods.

#7: Avoid Irritating Feminine Products

We’re giving you some great tips to avoid getting dangerous bacteria in your vagina and urinary tract. But did you know that the vagina also has lots of good bacteria?

It contains over 50 different microbes, many of which are bacteria called Lactobacilli. These keep the vagina healthy and balance pH levels.

Irritating feminine products, such as those with added scents, can disrupt the vagina’s delicate balance. This allows harmful bacteria to grow, resulting in UTIs and other infections.

Irritating feminine products include things such as:

  • Scented pads and tampons
  • Scented powders
  • Deodorant sprays; and
  • Douches

If your genital area is especially sensitive to irritants, you should also avoid scented soaps, bath oils, and bubble baths.

#8: Use an All-Natural Personal Moisturizer

Chronic urinary tract infections may cause irritation to your vagina’s delicate skin. A personal moisturizer can replenish and nourish the skin, giving you extra relief.

And since we already discussed how irritants such as perfumes and dyes can wreak havoc on your genitals, you know it’s best to go with an all-natural option. 

Not only can an all-natural personal moisturizer relieve dryness and increase elasticity, but it may also lead to a more healthy vaginal environment where harmful bacteria can be kept at bay.

For best results, an all-natural personal moisturizer — such as Chiavaye — should be applied at least twice per day.

Chiavaye: The All-Natural Personal Lube and Moisturizer

The pain caused by endometriosis and urinary tract infections can cause many issues in your daily life and your sex life.

We created Chiavaye with women like you in mind. We wanted to come up with a personal lube and moisturizer that is:

  • Vegan
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Limited in its ingredients
  • Non-toxic
  • Non-GMO
  • Fragrance-free; and
  • Hormone-free

Our aim is to help you maintain moisture and suppleness in the bedroom and throughout your everyday routine. Chiavaye soothes and alleviates irritation associated with endometriosis, UTIs, and many other conditions women experience on a regular basis.

Click the Buy Now button below to try our product and say goodbye to dryness and inflammation today.

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Written by Kaylyn Easton

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