Cheating, pH imbalance have no connection to urinary tract infections | Fact check
The claim: UTIs are caused by infidelity and pH imbalances
A May 3 Instagram video features one woman telling another about her friend's experience being diagnosed with urinary tract infections.
The woman says her friend was told by a doctor that her UTIs could be caused by her partner cheating or one of their pHs being "out of whack."
"If he's giving you UTI's, run for the hills," the post's caption says.
The post garnered more than 4,000 likes in four days.
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Our rating: False
Though women are especially prone to developing UTIs after sex, the infection isn't sexually transmitted, according to experts. The infection is caused by bacteria entering the urethra, not cheating partners or pH imbalance.
Infidelity and pH imbalance don't cause UTIs
UTIs are caused by bacteria entering the urethra and infecting the urinary tract, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Females are at a higher risk of contracting UTIs because their urethras are shorter and closer to the rectum, and 20% of those assigned female at birth will have a UTI at some point in their lives, the Cleveland Clinic reports.
Risk factors include female anatomy, certain types of birth control and menopause, according to the Mayo Clinic. Infidelity and pH imbalances are not mentioned by the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic or the CDC.
You also don't have to be sexually active to develop UTIs, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Dr. Marisa Clifton, the director of women's health at Johns Hopkins' Brady Urological Institute, told Paste BN common bacterial UTIs aren't transmitted from one partner to another via sexual activity.
"Sexual intercourse has been associated with increased risk of urinary tract infections in women, but this is not from passage of a urinary pathogen from partner to partner," Clifton said in an email. "Developing an uncomplicated urinary tract infection does not mean your partner is cheating."
Clifton said patients can develop recurrent UTIs after experiencing hormonal changes resulting in changes in the vaginal pH, but there's no evidence pH is associated with an increased risk of UTIs.
Dr. Justin Dubin, a urologist at Memorial Healthcare System in Florida, told Paste BN the claims made in the video are not true. He commented on the Instagram post to say the same.
"UTIs are not sexually transmitted, and men cannot give women UTIs," Dubin said in an email. "Unfortunately, some women are more prone to UTIs than others, especially after sex. There are many factors that can impact women getting UTIs, including the use of specific contraceptives like condoms with spermicide and lubricants."
Paste BN reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The claim has also been debunked by Lead Stories.
Our fact-check sources:
- CDC, Oct. 6, 2021, Urinary Tract Infections
- Cleveland Clinic, April 6, Urinary Tract Infections
- Mayo Clinic, Sept. 14, 2022, Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Dr. Marisa Clifton, May 9, Email exchange with Paste BN
- Dr. Justin Dubin, May 9, Email exchange with Paste BN
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