About UTIs

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common, and most people will experience at least one during their life. To understand how these infections start, it helps to know a little bit about the anatomy of the affected organs.

The organs in the body that produce and eliminate urine make up the urinary tract. Because of its location, the prostate is also included when talking about the urinary tract in men. A UTI occurs when bacteria invade the urinary tract, causing inflammation of the urethra (urethritis), bladder (cystitis), prostate (prostatitis), or kidneys (pyelonephritis).

There are two major types of UTIs: uncomplicated and complicated. You can learn more about types of UTIs in the Types & Symptoms section of this site.

Urinary tract infections affect men and women of various ages, though they are more common in women. Symptoms may differ slightly depending on your gender, so please visit either Women & UTIs or Men & UTIs for more information.

Remember, your doctor or healthcare provider is the single best source of information regarding you and your health. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health, your symptoms, or your medication.

Think you have a UTI?
If you think you have the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, you should contact your doctor or healthcare provider. To help your doctor understand your symptoms, fill out this Pre-Exam Checklist

Cipro XR Glossary
For a list of UTI-related terms and their definitions, visit the Cipro XR Glossary.