Kathmandu, Feb. 20 -- Madhurima Bhadra was 14 years old when she experienced her first Urinary Tract Infection. As a young teenager, Bhadra was not sure how she got the infection. She assumed, like many other women, it was a 'toilet infection' and the disease-causing bacteria entered her genital tract from her toilet seat. Now 44, and a public health consultant, she laughs at her naivety.

"To put it simply, women can contract UTI when there is a load of bacteria and fungus close to their urethra," says Bhadra. "It's not a toilet infection, rather it is a case of personal hygiene. Sometimes it can happen because of obsessive cleaning with unnecessary feminine products," she says.

According to the Office on Women's Health, an organisation...