Which of the following is a risk factor for UTIs during pregnancy?

Which of the following is a risk factor for UTIs during pregnancy?

• A. Elderly men
• B. Vegetarians
• C. Recent surgery
• D. Pregnant women

Answer: (D)

During pregnancy, the urinary tract becomes more prone to infections because the body undergoes changes that slow and back up urine flow. The growing uterus presses on the bladder and on the ureters, causing urinary stasis and incomplete emptying. At the same time, hormones like progesterone relax the smooth muscle of the urinary tract, which further slows urine flow and helps bacteria ascend from the lower tract. These factors together increase the likelihood of bacteriuria and symptomatic UTIs in pregnancy. That’s why being pregnant is the risk factor in this context. The other options don’t reflect pregnancy-specific risk: elderly men aren’t pregnant, vegetarians don’t have an inherent increased risk from diet alone, and recent surgery can raise UTI risk generally but not specifically due to pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the urinary tract becomes more prone to infections because the body undergoes changes that slow and back up urine flow. The growing uterus presses on the bladder and on the ureters, causing urinary stasis and incomplete emptying. At the same time, hormones like progesterone relax the smooth muscle of the urinary tract, which further slows urine flow and helps bacteria ascend from the lower tract. These factors together increase the likelihood of bacteriuria and symptomatic UTIs in pregnancy. That’s why being pregnant is the risk factor in this context.

The other options don’t reflect pregnancy-specific risk: elderly men aren’t pregnant, vegetarians don’t have an inherent increased risk from diet alone, and recent surgery can raise UTI risk generally but not specifically due to pregnancy.