Exploring the Relationship between Endometriosis and UTIs
The impacts of endometriosis go way beyond menstrual health. So, how do you know if your pelvic pain is caused by endometriosis or an infection? In this blog, we explore the complex relationship between endometriosis and UTIs. We cover the key differences between these conditions, symptom overlap and how endometriosis can impact your immune system.
Differences between Endometriosis and UTIs
It’s important to begin by understanding the key differences between endometriosis and a UTI.
Urinary Tract Infections
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection caused by pathogens entering the urethra and damaging the urinary tract. Symptoms often include:
Constant urge to urinate
Painful urination
Cloudy or dark urine
Pelvic pain
Chills, fever, fatigue
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is not an infection. It’s a chronic condition where endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus. These growths are referred to as lesions and can spread to nearby muscle tissue and organs. The exact cause of endometriosis remains unknown but it’s estimated that around 10% of women are born with the condition.
Endometriosis can cause a wide range of symptoms that will differ for individuals. These may include:
Pelvic pain
Bloating
Bowel habit changes
Fatigue
Infertility
Urinary tract problems
Different types of Endometriosis
Endometriosis is difficult to diagnose because it often requires laparoscopic surgery to confirm the presence and extent of the endometrial lesions. The condition can then be categorized based on where the lesions are found:
Superficial Endometriosis (SE): outside the uterus.
Ovarian Endometriosis (Endometrioma): on the ovaries.
Deep Endometriosis (DE): the vagina, bowel and rectum.
Urinary Tract Endometriosis (UTE): bladder, ureter, kidney and urethra.
Endometriosis and your bladder
Endometriosis used to be considered a menstrual disorder only. However, its ability to spread throughout the pelvic region means it’s increasingly recognised as a multi-organ and systemic inflammatory disease that needs interdisciplinary care. This includes impacting your bladder and urinary health.
Can endometriosis weaken your bladder?
The bladder and ureter are the most commonly affected areas with urinary tract endometriosis. When endometrial lesions attach to the bladder, they can trap blood and cause the bladder to become inflamed. This can mean you develop symptoms similar to a UTI.
Endometriosis and UTI symptom that overlap:
Urinary urgency
Painful urination
Pelvic pain
Urethra pain
These endometriosis symptoms can all mimic a UTI. If you’re experiencing any of these, it’s important to seek support from a medical professional to determine the root cause and get appropriate treatment.
Ordering a comprehensive MyUTI test kit will help you to determine if the UTI-like symptoms could be an infection. If the test comes back negative, you can dig more into the conditions like endometriosis that could be the cause of symptoms.
Can endometriosis cause a UTI?
If you have endometriosis and struggle with recurrent UTIs, you may be wondering: can endometriosis cause a UTI? Like most areas of women’s health, we lack the research to say for sure.
However, scientists have been investigating the impact of endometriosis on the immune system. Recent research suggests endometriosis can weaken the immune response throughout your body.
This can indirectly leave you more susceptible to UTIs. A compromised immune response could mean your body is less capable of fighting off infection - leading to more aggressive, longer-lasting or recurrent UTIs.
How can I manage my endometriosis?
There’s currently no cure for endometriosis. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom management. Options include keyhole surgery to remove lesions, NSAID pain medications, diet and lifestyle changes. If you’re having pelvic pain, it’s important to seek support from your doctor so that they can better understand your experience and coordinate your care effectively.
What else can cause recurrent UTIs?
Recurrent UTIs can be caused by a multitude of factors. Some of these may include:
Anatomical Differences: making some women more susceptible to bacteria entering the urethra.
Hormonal Changes: particularly during pregnancy and menopause.
Products & fabrics: fragranced products and synthetic fabric underwear can encourage bacterial growth.
Sexual Activity: potentially increasing bacterial transfer to the urethra.
Diabetes: high sugar levels in the urine can increase your chances of infection.
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