It is very important that you see your doctor for a diagnosis to be sure. Women are 25 times more likely to get UTIs than men. The female urethra is only one inch long, making it easier for bacteria to enter and cause infection. In comparison, the male urethra has a longer distance for bacteria to travel to reach the bladder. They're found in the digestive tract, the stool, around the anus and on the skin between the anus and the vagina.
Infection occurs when bacteria stick to the opening of the urethra and multiply.
The closeness of the female urinary tract to these areas and its shorter length make it more susceptible to infection.