Ducky’s Guide to UTI Prevention

UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection. The urinary tract includes the urethra, bladder, the ureter tubes that connect the bladder to the kidneys and the kidneys. Almost every woman will have one at some point in her life. A UTI is usually caused by bacteria but can sometimes be caused by increased sexual activity, sexually transmitted infections (STDs), low immune system, poor diet, stress, birth defects, or surgery. Pregnant women (due to pelvic pressure) and postmenopausal women (due to hormonal changes) may be more susceptible to UTIs.

Prevention

• Wear cotton underwear. Wear loose clothing rather than tight jeans or pantyhose.
• Take showers rather than baths.
• Always wipe front to back after you go to the bathroom to avoid getting bacteria from your rectum into your urethra.
• Be patient when you go to the bathroom and give yourself a chance to completely empty your bladder.
• Have foreplay in the shower, taking time to wash away any bacteria that may be on your or your partner’s hands and body. Make it a fun part of your sex play.
• Pee after sex play to flush any possible bacteria out of your urethral opening.
• Keep your genital area clean. Wash thoroughly with water. Avoid harsh soaps, glycerin soaps and douches. I recommend that if you want to use soap, use something very mild, like Celaphil liquid. It is available at any pharmacy.
• Avoid scented sprays and scented panty liners, pads or tampons.
• Drink pure cranberry juice. Avoid “juice drinks” with corn syrup and other sweeteners. Try to find pure juice, sweetened only with apple juice. Cranberries contain a tannin called proanthocyanidin, which inhibits bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls.
• Take a daily 400-milligram cranberry-extract tablet. Available at health food stores.
• Avoid spermicide. Spermicide is sometimes found on condoms or used in conjunction with diaphragms. Spermicide alters the healthy vaginal bacterial flora and can leave you more vulnerable to infections.
• Consult an herbalist to find the proper teas and herbs that make work for your body.
• Get plenty of sleep and take measures to reduce stress in your life.
• Limit sugar, starches, caffeine and alcohol.

Signs of an Infection May Include: Painful urination, frequent urination, trouble passing urine, cloudy urine, fever/chills, blood in urine and/or body aches.

Treatment: See your doctor. Follow their treatment plan. Fever, chills, blood in your urine or pain in your kidneys (your back, below your rib cage) can be signs of an advanced infection and may require more urgent care. As always, drink plenty of liquids. Follow all of the tips for prevention listed above.

Resources: Cabrini Medical Center, Health Magazine, Our Bodies, Ourselves by The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective