An infection that affects any part of your urinary system, including your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, is known as a urinary tract infection, or UTI. The most common type of UTI affects the bladder and is called cystitis.
The most common cause of UTIs, especially in women, is bacteria. These bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) and begin to multiply which then leads to infection in various parts of the urinary tract, including the bladder, ureters, and kidneys.
