UTI, Constipation, and Their Relationship

What is UTI?

UTI is quite common, mostly in women. There are different causes for a large number of UTI cases, such as inadequate hydration, unhygienic toilet usage, exposure to dirty undergarments, excessive exercise, unhygienic sexual relationships and much more. About 60% of women find themselves prone to UTIs during their lifetime. 

Moreover, 1 in 4 women face risky challenges with recurring infections. 

So, one of the causes of this recurring UTI can be chronic constipation, or you may face chronic constipation when you have a UTI. It is a bidirectional relationship, which you have to break. 

What Does UTI Feel Like?

If you have experienced UTI, there's no need to tell you how it feels. However, read along to learn more about the occurrence of these symptoms.

With UTI, you may experience different symptoms at different stages of urination, such as;

• Storage phase
• Urination phase
• Post-orientation phase

1. Storage symptoms are the symptoms you experience when your bladder is full. These occur because of bladder overactivity, from the urine pushing on the walls of your bladder.

• Increased urinary frequency
• Night time voiding
• Urinary urgency
• Urinary incontinence (not being able to hole)

2. Symptoms that you may experience when you pass the urine are;

• A slow or weak stream of urine
• Urinary hesitancy
• Dribble at the end of the flow

3. Post-urination symptoms you may experience are;

• Sensation of incomplete voiding
• Post-urination dribble

Well, all these are not so comfortable to experience. That is why you must know why constipation can be one of the things you will need to avoid.

What is Constipation?

Constipation is not just the inability to pass the bowels smoothly. It is an infrequent or difficult bowel movement where you experience less than three passages a week. When this situation becomes chronic, things get complicated in your body.

Some of the common symptoms of constipation are;

• Experiencing strain when passing
• Hard, compact or small stools
• Incomplete evacuation
• Difficulty or painful passing
• Recurrent bloating

Note: The symptom intensity can vary depending on the duration of constipation.

If you wish to know much more about constipation and how to overcome it naturally, then do not skip reading this article: Treating Constipation the Natural Way With Ayurveda and Yoga. .

Can the Symptoms of UTI and Constipation Overlap?

Yes, the symptoms can overlap. Even if the two are distinct conditions, emerging from two different organs in the lower part of the abdomen, you may experience some common symptoms. Let's see how to find the minute difference between them so that it is easier to find out what is giving you the symptoms.

• Abdominal Discomfort: A UTI causes a burning and stinging pain in the lower abdomen. Constipation pain can feel like a cramp in the sides of the abdomen and a feeling of fullness.
• Urination Changes: When you have a UTI, you will experience an increased urinary frequency, an urge to urinate but with limited flow, or just dribbling. In the case of constipation, you will also feel a frequency of constipation due to the pressure put on the bladder by the filled-up faeces, but this need not be dribbling or with a lower amount of flow.
• Lower Back Pain: Both UTI and constipation cause lower back pain. Recurrent or long-lasting UTIs can cause back pain, mainly when the infection spreads to the kidneys. Constipation-related back pain may be mostly due to an increase in pressure from stools and bloating. 
• Fatigue: Both conditions can make you feel tired due to your body's immune response to throw out waste and fight the infection. However, UTI fatigue is often accompanied by chills and fever.

Having clarity of symptoms is essential to know what to do next to treat and prevent the conditions.

Did You Know?

Women with constipation commonly report Lower Urinary Tract symptoms more in middle age.

How Do You Get UTI From Constipation?

The connection is evident from the proximity of these two organs in the lower abdomen. As you read in the previous section, when the two organs are nearby, they share the same neural pathway, meaning they will respond to similar stimuli from the brain. 

So, how does this shared relationship create an issue?

• When your rectum is full, it puts pressure on the bladder wall. This pressure causes spasms, which lead to an obstruction in the outflow of urine.
• With chronic constipation, repeated pressure on the pelvic floor (a set of horizontal muscles that hold your abdominal organs in place). A repeated stimulus leads to an over-activity of the floor, causing frequency-like symptoms.
• However, in the long run, repeated stimuli can cause the pelvic floor to lose its strength, a condition called Pelvic Dysfunction, which ultimately leads to impaired elimination of stool and urine.

How Do You Develop Constipation From UTI?

Yes, even chronic UTIs can give you constipation. 

• UTI causes an inflammatory condition in and around the bladder that can eventually extend to the gastrointestinal tract, leading to constipation.
• With UTI symptoms such as frequent voiding, some may try to hold the urine to prevent discomfort. This means contracting the pelvic floor. In the long run, this habit can also lead to preventing stools from passing in an attempt to prevent urine flow.
• When you experience a UTI, you try to avoid peeing as much as possible. To do that, you unconsciously reduce your fluid intake (which is contrary to medical advice). This dehydrated condition can lead to complex stool formation.
• When you take medications for UTI, like antibiotics, they can disrupt the gut bacteria, which influences the bowel movement.
• With UTI symptoms like abdominal pain and pelvic discomfort, you take a long time to rest. This immobility can reduce bowel motility, which contributes to constipation.
• Well, there's even a psychological factor to this relationship. When you deal with the discomfort and inconvenience of UTI, it can give you stress and anxiety. These emotional factors also influence your bowel health and changes in bowel habits.

So, whenever you are taking a step to get either of the two- constipation and UTI - treated, keep in mind that they can occur together, be a cause of one another and can even complicate the condition.

Troubled with Recurrent UTI and Constipation?

If you have to face recurrent UTIs and constipation issues, your immune system may be to blame.

Did You Know?

UPEC (Uropathogenic Escherichia coli), the primary culprit behind more than 80% of UTIs, is thought to originate from the intestinal microbiome!

Your bladder is protected by a protective barrier that prevents Escherichia coli (E.coli) colonisation. Who does this protective work? Your immune system.

• So, even if you store your urine for long hours, once in a while, your immune system protects your bladder from getting infected by those dangerous microorganisms. However, if your immune system is less intense, then you face the issues of recurrent UTIs.  
• E. Coli is mainly present in the gastrointestinal tract, and an imbalanced gut microbiome may stem the infections. This microbiome forms a large number of bad microbes within the body. When the immune system is not able to fight them, the infection spreads.

These lead to inflammation, which influences the motility of the GIT, and even contributes to constipation.

So, the first thing you must do when you face symptoms of UTI and constipation is to build a stronger immune system—your army to fight!

Natural Remedies for UTI and Constipation

1. Herbal Tea

Make your healthy herbal tea with coriander and turmeric. They have good antibacterial power to fight off infection, specifically targeting the bacteria E. coli. Curcumin protects renal tubular function (small tubes in your kidney that filter urine). It also has the power to decline the inflammatory response by destroying the RNAs of the bacteria.

2. Garlic

Ayurvedic experts rely on garlic to fight UTIs and gut-related health issues. It can reduce symptoms such as abdominal pain and cramps. The potent allicin in garlic and its antibacterial properties can fight infections. Crush or chew two pods of garlic and swallow for the best results. You can also add them to your dishes. 

Note : Avoid garlic if you are prone to a garlic allergy.

3. Probiotics

Probiotics must be one of the first things that you grab when you experience UTI and constipation symptoms. Probiotics will heal your gut - which can be the root of all your problems. Some of the finest sources of probiotics are dried fruits, yoghurt, buttermilk and fermented pickles. However, avoid eating anything spicy or hot.

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon sticks have antibacterial properties that combat the pathogens running around your GIT and urinary tract. Cinnamon bark has trans-cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, which are powerful antimicrobials.
Add cinnamon to your herbal teas or daily dishes. For improved effects, you can also use a fourth of a teaspoon of cinnamon bark paste.

5. Cranberry Juice

Many use cranberry extracts for UTI treatment and prevention. D-mannose, the simple form of sugar in cranberry juice, helps prevent UTIs. It also has the potential power to stop E. coli growth, which attaches to the bladder wall.

6. Parsley

Many use parsley as a diuretic(enabling you to pass more urine). Parsley has a chemical constituent known as apigenin, which also has anti-inflammatory properties apart from the diuretic ability. Consuming anything made with parsley (preferably the juice) will help flush out the harmful bacteria from the bladder. Also, its rich fibre content will help with constipation.

7. Juniper

Traditionally, many use Juniper for its antiseptic properties. It inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. The active molecules in Juniper disrupt the bacteria's cell membrane. This makes the bacteria vulnerable to any treatment you give.  Use Juniper to fight off any infection in your UTI and the gut.

Add Some Lifestyle Changes to Prevent UTI

Take a look at your lifestyle and habits. They may be the reasons for your recurrent infection. Change them if they are!

• Avoid unhygienic douching.
• Urinate before and after sexual intercourse.
• Change out of sweaty pants or undergarments immediately.
• Consider going commando occasionally to allow your vagina to breathe.
• Opt for showers over baths to ensure proper cleaning of the genital area.
• Avoid holding urine, and use the restroom when you feel like peeing.
• Carry your wipes when you travel to clean yourself.

What Emergencies You Must Note

Sometimes, UTIs and constipation can complicate things in your body. What are these symptoms you must look out for?

UTI

• The severity of symptoms, such as high fever with chills and vomiting, needs immediate medical attention.
• If your symptoms worsen day after day, it means you need to find out the cause immediately.
• Recurrent UTIs signal that you need to find out the root cause by undergoing a detailed evaluation from a professional.
• If you are elderly, a pregnant woman or have a weakened immune system, then it is best that you consult a professional.

Constipation

• Chronic constipation with symptoms like pain, pressure and bleeding needs examination from an anorectal specialist.

Get consulted if your constipation does not go away even after using home remedies and laxatives.

Conclusion

The relationship between UTI and constipation is as simple as the gut being the root cause of all your health issues. However, you must be mindful that every UTI is not rooted in the gut or is not related to constipation. Find the correct cause of your symptoms and practise prevention for comfortable, stress-free living.