Urinary tract infections are one of the more common inflammations, especially among women. They can be caused by bacteria and are therefore in principle contagious. However, how likely it is that an infection can occur is to be clarified in more detail here.
Can I get infected by a urinary tract infection?
This infection can of course, like other infections, cause contagion. However, it is not transmitted directly from urinary tract to urinary tract. In most cases, the disease is caused by coliform bacteria that reside naturally in our intestines.
It happens that we can be infected by our own intestinal germs as well as by the intestinal germs of others. In most cases, this happens due to a lack of hygiene when going to the toilet, in public toilets but also due to the fact that poor hand washing causes germs to be transmitted by the hand to the opening of the urethra. The germs are also often found outside the toilet.
They can be found on door handles, handles and counters in buses or trains, on public displays such as ATMs or generally in places that are often touched by many different people. The direct germination path without the intermediate place of the hand is very rare. Therefore, one of the most important measures to protect yourself from a urinary tract infection is to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. You can find more information on this topic on our page What are the typical causes of a urinary tract infection?
As a man, can I become infected with a urinary tract infection in a woman?
In general, it is possible for a man to be infected by a woman’s infections, but due to the greater length of the urethra compared to a woman, an infection of the bladder and urethra is very rare. An infection, as just described, is much more often caused by a lack of hand hygiene, especially during and after going to the toilet. For this reason, one can assume that it is possible to become infected directly by a woman’s urinary tract infection during vaginal sex, for example. However, the already rare disease of a urinary tract infection in men is even more often attributed to the general bacterial contamination of the environment.
