Can Genital Herpes Cause Recurrent UTIs?

What’s worse than a painful, burning urinary tract infection? There's no doubt that suffering from recurring urinary tract infections is one thing! (Perhaps genital herpes, too?)

Not only can the symptoms of a urinary tract infection interfere with your daily life, they can also create a stigma and cause ongoing anxiety that makes it difficult to function. In fact, some people with severe chronic UTIs don’t even feel comfortable leaving the house.

One question that arises, though, is what causes recurring UTIs? Can they be related to sexually transmitted infections, such as genital herpes? Or is this a completely separate issue?

What is a urinary tract infection?

A urinary tract infection — UTI for short — is an extremely common infection of one or more parts of the urinary tract, which consists of the urethra, the bladder, the ureters, and the kidneys.

While the body has systems in place to help keep bacteria from entering, there are times when germs get into the urethra. In many cases, bacteria don't get any further and are cleansed during urination. However, sometimes bacteria manage to proliferate in the urethra or make their way further into the urinary tract, leading to infection. Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections, but UTIs can impact the kidneys too, which is a more serious condition.

So, with that in mind, how could genital herpes lead to a UTI?

What is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is an extremely prevalent sexually transmitted disease. According to the CDC, over one in six American residents aged 14 to 49 have genital herpes, which can be caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Most people won't have any symptoms, which explains why many will have no clue they are infected. Any sexually active person is at risk of genital herpes.

Like other herpes viruses, such as chickenpox, genital herpes rests and remains in the body forever once contracted. However, it can have episodic breakouts, at which times there are rashes and sores on and around the genitals. Those sores eventually burst and become ulcers, with pus and fluid draining from them.

As time goes on, outbreaks tend to be less severe and less frequent. However, even when the patient isn’t in the midst of an outbreak, the disease is still contagious and people who know they are infected should take care to use protection during sex, also making their partner aware of the condition.

Herpes as a cause of urinary tract infections

First things first — outbreaks of genital herpes, during which there are active sores, can quite obviously cause a topical inflammation of the genitals that also impacts the urethra. When the urethra becomes inflamed, this is called urethritis. It leads to symptoms that are very similar to those of a urinary tract infection. For some people, the inflammation becomes so severe that they are unable to pass urine and need a catheter. 

Because urinary tract infections are typically caused by the bacteria that naturally live within the bowels, where they do not cause infection (E. Coli being the most common example), urinary tract infections can be caused by improper wiping or hygiene. That is, we accidentally transfer these bacteria to the urethra, where they can travel up. 

We suppose that active genital herpes outbreaks make wiping quite painful. It might be easier to miss personal hygiene during this time. There is very limited scientific evidence that genital herpes is directly linked to recurrent urinary tract infections, however.

Symptoms of UTIs and herpes

In many cases, the symptoms experienced by a patient with genital herpes resemble those of a UTI at first, which can lead to the mistaken conclusion that herpes has caused the UTI. Rather, the initial symptoms that tend to occur one or two days before the sores of an outbreak appear may mimic those of a UTI. These include:

• A burning sensation when urinating
• Painful urination
• Frequent and urgent need to urinate, as well as difficulty urinating

However, as the symptoms progress, patients with genital herpes also experience:

• Numbness nad tingling or even burning in the genital area
• Watery blisters in and around the genitals
• Tenderness and sores near the rectum

These additional sores, once burst, can take up to four weeks to heal. Throughout this time, hygiene is of the utmost importance to assure that bacteria don’t settle into these sores or transfer bacteria from them to the urethra.

Preventing genital herpes

There are plenty of ways to help reduce the risk of contracting genital herpes, most of which include various safe sex practices, since this is an STI.

1. Always use a condom. Covering the infected areas can go a long way in reducing the chances of contagion.
2. Know any partner’s sexual history, including if they have slept with someone who has had an STI or if they have ever contracted an STI.
3. Limit the number of sexual partners and try to maintain only partners with a clean history of STIs. This is easier when practicing mutual monogamy.
4. Avoid oral sex with anyone who has a cold sore, as this is another strain of herpesvirus that could be contracted on the genitals.
5. Avoid sex if either partner has a current outbreak. Genital herpes can be contracted even without active sores, but it is more so when ulcers appear.

Avoiding UTIs

In addition, individuals can do a lot to avoid contracting a UTI.

• Wipe from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria from the anus or vaginal area to the urethra.
• Clean the genital region before and after sex.
• Urinate immediately after sex to help reduce the number of bacteria transferred into the urethra during the act.
• Don’t hold urine when the urge to go arises and empty the bladder completely with each trip to the restroom. Urinate frequently to avoid bacterial build up.
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and avoid those with excess caffeine and sugar when possible.
• Take showers instead of baths to avoid sitting in the bacteria that is washed from the body.
• Don’t use scented deodorants, soaps, or douches.

Conclusion

About half of women and one tenth of men will experience a UTI at some point, though it may be extremely mild and not severe. In addition, about one fifth of the population has contracted genital herpes. Neither of these are pleasant, and while UTIs may be recurrent in some cases, genital herpes is chronic in all cases and cannot be cured.