DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm a 46-year-old woman and have never had a
urinary tract infection before, but think I may have one now. Do
I need to be seen by a physician for treatment? What causes
UTIs?  ANSWER: Urinary tract infection, or UTI, is generally a
bacterial infection that can affect any part of the urinary
tract. Up to 50 percent of women encounter UTIs during their
lifetimes. When treated promptly, a UTI is typically curable.
Antibiotics typically play a key role in treatment. Rarely do
UTIs progress to something more serious, such as an infection of
the kidney or infection of the bloodstream. Because you have not
previously been diagnosed with a UTI, you should make an
appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms.  UTIs are
typically caused by bacteria that live in the colon. The most
common bacterium causing a UTI is a type of Escherichia coli (E.
coli). The female anatomy increases risk of UTIs, because
bacteria can easily migrate from the nearby rectum or vagina to
the urethra and into the bl