A urinary tract infection is an infection involving the urethra, bladder, ureters or kidneys. These four areas comprise of the urinary tract, where urine passes through our body.
Our kidneys drain urine through two ureters (a narrow tube, approximately 30cm long) into our bladder. Our bladder collects and stores urine until it passes through the urethra, the tube that connects the bladder with the outside of the body. Any part of this system can become infected, resulting in a UTI.
Urinary tract infections are the second most common infection in the human body with approximately 50% of all women experiencing a UTI in their lifetime with 25% experiencing recurrent UTIs.