Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are known to be a common, yet uncomfortable, bacterial infection. They affect mostly children and women. Men can also get urinary tract infections, but women are four times more likely than men to suffer from them.
When a person starts to get older, UTIs can become more serious. For those that are older, many times they result in a stay at the hospital. They can also cause big problems and can even lead to death if the infection spreads to either the bloodstream or the kidneys.
Luckily, urinary tract infections can be prevented with some very simple actions and behaviors. For those wanting to reduce their risks, here are some UTI prevention tips that you can follow.
Don’t Wait to Go to the Bathroom
It’s important to make sure you empty your bladder if you feel the need to go. Make sure not to hold it and when you do urinate, take the time to empty your bladder all the way.
If you don’t do this, you have an increased chance of your urethra being infected by the bacteria that gets near it. When you urinate, the bacteria is pushed out of that area, making it less likely to cause an infection.
Urinate After Sexual Intercourse
Another thing that can give bacteria access to the urethra and cause infection is sexual intercourse. If you go to the bathroom right after sex, this helps push the bacteria out of the way where it’s not as likely to infect the urethra.
Drink Water Often
One of the easiest things to do is to make sure to drink plenty of water during the day. Water dilutes your urine. It also makes you urinate more often, thus flushing out any potential bacteria that can settle in the urinary tract. This can help in reducing the risk of an infection happening.
Wipe From Front To Back
When having a bowel movement or urinating, it’s best for women to wipe from the front to back. By doing this, there is less of a chance for fecal matter to get into the urethra.
Of course, if fecal matter does reach the urethra then it can transfer bacteria and cause a urinary tract infection. It’s also important to make sure that the anus stays clean so fecal matter is less likely to be transferred to the urethra from your underwear.
Favor A Shower Over A Bath.
When you’re in the bathtub it’s more likely to expose your urethra to possible infection. Water and bath products can easily enter the body when you take a bath. Bathing can also change the PH balance of the vaginal area. These things can be the cause of a possible infection.
When you shower, you’re not laying in dirty water and it eliminates the chance of those products from entering the body and causing bacteria to get to the urethra and leading to a urinary tract infection. It’s also important to remember that if you use a washcloth that you first use it to clean the genital area and after that, use it for the anus to avoid spreading more fecal matter bacteria.
Avoid Perfumed Products In Private Areas
Personal hygiene products that are perfumed contain chemicals which means those ingredients can actually cause irritation to the urethra. Because the body naturally makes its own cleansers to keep your private parts clean inside the body, all that’s really needed on the outside to stay clean is soap and water. Just make sure that the soap you use is very mild.
This advice can even apply to the practice of douching. Douching tends to strip the vaginal flora away which makes it more likely that a bacterial infection can form. Vaginal flora contains Lactobacillus bacteria, which is the good bacteria, and is able to keep possible infection away.
Take Urinary Tract Health Supplements
If you have a long track record of developing urinary tract infections despite your best efforts, consider taking a urinary tract health supplement to boost your body’s ability to fight infections down there. There are several reputable companies that make supplements like this, and it’s pretty easy to find the good ones by simply checking the reviews to see what other folks are saying about it.
Wear Cotton Underwear That Isn’t Too Tight
It’s important to wear underwear that’s able to breathe. Cotton is able to do this and will also help moisture escape. Both polyester and silk underwear tend to keep the moisture in which makes your private parts a perfect place for bacteria to form and grow.
It’s also important to keep in mind that if your underwear is too tight, it doesn’t let the air flow properly. This can again cause moisture to stay inside your underwear. Again, this is perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow and can cause a urinary tract infection.
Make Cranberry Juice Part Of Your Diet
Cranberry juice has proanthocyanins in it. Since urinary tract infections are known to be caused by E. coli, this ingredient in cranberry juice is known to keep the E. coli from getting attached to either the urethra or the bladder. Therefore, making cranberry juice part of your regular diet is a great way to take preventative measures towards protecting against a urinary tract infection.
Make sure the cranberry juice you choose is not the kind that has a lot of sugar added. This added sugar can cause more bacterial growth in the vagina. If you are not a fan of cranberry juice, there are also cranberry supplements that you can take instead to combat any possible bacteria.
Use a different birth control method.
For those that use either a spermicide-lubricated condom or a diaphragm, there is a greater chance of getting a urinary tract infection. This is due to these methods providing a better environment for bacterial growth. If this is a problem for you and you use one of these birth-control methods, consider switching to vaginal lubricants that are water-based and try using a different type of birth control.
Small Changes Have a Big Impact on UTIs
For those that suffer from urinary tract infections, they can be very uncomfortable and can even cause pain. The constant feeling of needing to urinate along with the painful burn that happens when you use the bathroom are just some of the symptoms.
Most people that suffer from urinary tract infections on a regular basis are happy to try anything that might make them less frequent. It’s true that some people will always be more susceptible to these infections, such as those that have diabetes or women that are postmenopausal. But by practicing these tips you should still see a noticeable difference on the affect urinary tract infections have on your life. It’s certainly worth making these small changes in life to help prevent this uncomfortable condition in the long run.
