The nurse is reviewing risk factors for bladder infections with a female patient. Which patient statement indicates that teaching has been effective?

Question

1. The urinary meatus in females is closer to the bladder than in most males.
2. The urinary meatus in females is farther from the anus than most males.
3. The pH of the female urethra is more conducive to infection.
4. Females urinate more frequently than males, increasing risk.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1
In females, the urethra is approximately 3 to 5 cm (1.5 inches) long, and the urinary meatus is anterior to the vaginal orifice. In males, the urethra is approximately 20 cm (8 inches) long. The shorter distance of the female urethra creates a mechanism by which more females than males contract bladder infections. The female urinary meatus is closer, not farther from the anus than in most males, also increasing risk for bladder infections. The pH of the female urethra is not more conducive to infection. Frequent urination decreases the risk of bladder infection.