Urinary Tract Infections: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and Natural Approaches

Over half of all women and about 12 percent of men will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime.

Women are 30 times more likely to develop UTIs than men due to their anatomy. Illustrations by The Epoch Times/Shutterstock

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract, causing pain and burning with urination. If left untreated, UTIs may lead to worsening symptoms and further complications.

UTIs are very common in women and not uncommon in men. Approximately 50 percent to 60 percent of all women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime, while about 12 percent of men will. Globally, the incidence of UTIs has increased from about 252 million reported cases in 1990 to about 404 million in 2019.