<s>[INST] Does anything increase the risk of a UTI? [/INST] Before menopause, the most common risk factors are sexual intercourse which is thought to increase the number of bacteria in the bladder. That’s why experts often advise women to urinate after sex to flush them out.

The use of spermicides may also cause UTIs in younger women, as they kill off beneficial bacteria in the vagina making it easier for the damaging bacteria to infect.

After menopause, the number of beneficial bacteria in the vagina naturally decline. The bladder also contracts less strongly than it once did, making it more difficult to empty completely. Source: LIVI CO UK. Link: https://www.livi.co.uk/your-health/utis-your-questions-answered/. Field: Urology. Disease: Urinary Tract Infection </s>